Ignoring the noise... www.momtofive.com J and Brenna putting the angel on the tree last year...Now it is my turn to be the memory maker. And I'm figuring out that I'm lousy at it. I'm a practical person...many times too practical. I gain great enjoyment from cleaning out a closet and creating a chore chart. I try to maintain order and calm. It's important to me that our home is clean and organized enough that we can find what we need when we need it. I do not enjoy glitter, playdough, or paints. Because I love my children, I endure those banned items occasionally, but not with the enthusiasm some of you possess. Unfortunately, I am discovering this year that I feel the same way about the holidays. I endure them and try to go through some of the traditional motions because I think it is good for the kids, but I have come to the sad realization that most of my fond holidays memories from childhood required a lot more work for my mom! Cold weather meant wet, cold boots, hats and mittens that were either missing their pair or laying all over the house. No school meant my mom had to find things for us to do and keep us from fighting. Presents meant making a list, budgeting, shopping, worrying about the budget, wrapping, and worrying about the budget. Big meals and potlucks meant lots of planning, shopping (again), cooking, serving, cleaning up, and worrying about the budget. Social activities meant dressing up, keeping the kids in line, monitoring the candy intake and staying out way too late. Plays and pageants meant rehersals, costumes, makeup, and refreshments. Now I'm the mom! I'm the one who coordinating all the work to make the holidays memorable. I'm not afraid of hard work...not at all. I'm just not a fluffy, frilly, bells and whistles kind of person. I have a close friend who will take a weekend and paint a room complete with a sky on top and flowers going around the bottom. I would take that same weekend and clean our garage. Every year I think I'm going to be smarter through the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. I'm going to stop our regular curriculum and concentrate on holiday activities, and I would say no to many of the holiday parties so we could actually enjoy the few we attended. I'm going to go easy on the presents, concentrating on things made with your hands instead of things bought in a mall. I'm going to bake cookies, sing at a nursing home and take bread to a needy family. Yep, that's right. That's what I intend to do with all my spare time that I create in November and December. Uh huh. So here I am at the precipice of another holiday season, and I'm trying to figure out how to make all of those goals come true. We're starting tomorrow. My only daughter and I are going to plan our menu, go shopping and bake pies together tomorrow. She is elated. The boys are equally excited because I actually (gasp, choke) canceled our schoolwork so I would follow through with the baking idea. That's a start, right? I will try this year. I will to embrace the activities instead of enduring them. I love my children and want them to grow up with fond memories of the holidays and not a picture of mom scowling and grumbling. Maybe I'll even pull out some craft proje.....uh....wait a minute....I think I'm getting a little crazy there.....I take that back. We'll just deal with the cooking first and consider the crafting later. I have other plans. This year is the year I'm going to make them happen. I think. |
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