The stocking are hung by the chimney with care.
The tree is adorned with ornaments, tinsel, and lights.
The house smells of warm, home-baked goodies.
As Survival Moms, we spend a lot of time creating the Christmas, or Hanukkah, of our children’s dreams and our own. It’s possible, though, for the beauty of the holidays to pass us by, and too often, it does. This year, don’t let that happen. Purposefully, set aside a block of time to enjoy all you’ve done and include at least one thing that will fill your heart with the spirit of the season. A peaceful Christmas doesn’t have to be at odds with one that is filled with fun activities.
Ignore the pile of laundry for just a few minutes. The dishes in the sink can wait, or better yet, be delegated to one of the kids. Turn off all the lights tonight and enjoy some quiet moments in front of the Christmas tree. You’ve done so much to create holiday magic that it only seems fair that some of the magic should be yours!
What will make this holiday time special and memorable for you? A phone call to an old friend? Lunch or dinner at a special restaurant or continuing a generations-old tradition with your own kids or grandkids? Schedule those special moments on your calendar and enjoy counting down the moments or days until they arrive. Who said Christmas giddiness is just for kids?
One more thing, Mom! You know your loved ones and close friends are going to ask, “What do you want for Christmas?” It’s a sincere question and you can alleviate a lot of their stress by having a few suggestions. A weekly date with hubby? A Vera Bradley throw? Something shiny from James Avery? A mother-daughter night out? It’s not self-centered or greedy to actually tell someone when they ask “The Gift Question”!
I HATE HATE HATE, along with everyone else, how terribly depressing it looks when all the holiday decorations come down. As a result, I have decided to replace at least some of them with winter / snowman decorations after that. The tree will still be gone, but at least it will still be somewhat festive, compared to the rest of the year.
We went to see two different train displays in our closest big city. I baked with my kids. My parents take the kids to a holiday play every year, which gives my husband and I chance to get a bunch of decorating done to surprise them. My kids know I'm done shopping (or close to it) by Thanksgiving, so that limits the whining for presents in December. No chance, so there's no point. 🙂
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