I have two reasons that I am very excited. First, we are done with our lessons today, and we are officially on Christmas break!!! I think I get just as excited about our breaks as the kids do.
The second reason I'm so excited? Because of a conversation Sarah and I had today. Paul's work was having a potluck lunch today and Paul wanted to bring my ham/pasta bake. But there was no oven or a good microwave to warm up the dish at his work. So I agreed to make the dish this morning and have it at his work before lunch. His co-workers, who happen to be women, were surprised that I would do that for him. Hmmm, wonder what that means. But that's besides the point. Anyway, after all the baking we did yesterday, then this morning cooking the meal for Paul's work, we were driving home and I said to Sarah, "Well, I have the afternoon free now. I guess I could bake some more, but I don't know if I want to." To which my loving daughter says, "You have more baking to do?!?!" I explained that I need to make cookies for a gift exchange at daddy's work, but that I can bake them tomorrow (those are the snickerdoodles). And that I was still thinking of the sugar cookies and the gingerbread cookies. She then responds with, "I like baking and all, but after a while it gets a tiring and it's not as much fun." That's my daughter.
Now, as you are all wondering what I'm talking about, why I'm excited about this conversation, let me explain. I'm not the type of mom that easily does things with her kids, cooking, baking, crafts etc... It just gets to messy and more of a job for me to do. And truly, that was the way I was brought up. You know, stay out of your parents hair, type thing. So I have been trying to change that slowly. I've been trying to teach Sarah about cooking and baking, doing crafts together etc... And I've never been a Christmas/holiday baking person. I might make a batch or two of cookies, but that's about it. I've never done the baking for a week or two before Christmas and having tons of goodies around the house. Again, it's just not me. Paul has never minded if I have them around the house or not, so it's just never been a 'need'. But as I've read about so many families baking together this time of year I thought, "O.K. JoAnn, lets step out of your comfort zone, allow Sarah into the kitchen with you and do this thing called Christmas baking." Thinking, that this was some big mother/daughter thing around the world. That all mothers and daughters should be baking this time of year, and that it was the 'proper' thing to do. And if I didn't do it, I was somehow cheating my daughter out of some sort of holiday experience. So into the kitchen we went, and had a fun time the first day. Then to me, it became a chore. I just didn't want to do it much anymore. But I pressed on, knowing this was an experience Sarah 'needed' to have, and that I had to start doing this every year. I mean, come on, all moms do this Christmas/holiday baking thing, right? So I made my list and I was going to stick to it for Sarah's sake. That is why today's conversation was a blessing and got me excited. She is just like me! She isn't into the whole end of year baking either, and she is getting down right sick of cookies just like me! Oh, happy days. I'm not hurting or depriving my child of anything if I don't bake tons of Christmas cookies. Wow, what a relief. So we have decided we'll do the snickerdoodles tomorrow, because we have to for Paul's work, and that's it, we are done. Will we do the sugar or gingerbread cookies? Who knows. I got some great recipes from some blog friends (thank you very much), but we are just going to wait until after the first of the year. Then we'll decide then.
You don't know what kind of pressure this has taken off of my shoulders. I know, I shouldn't be living my life on what others do, and I truly try not to do that. But when I see so many people doing that with their children, I guess I started to feel guilty. Thinking I was depriving my kids of something. But I have to remember the Lord gave these kids to me, knowing I would be the kind of mom they needed. Even if, being that kind of mom means I'm not in the kitchen with them all day baking and cooking. We do other things together that, to some, would seem goofy. I was talking with a dear friend today and she said, "Oh, we have some crazy traditions in our family." I responded with, "I don't think I would want to share half of our traditions." But the more I thought about that part of our conversation, the more it truly touched my heart. We do all have different traditions and things we do as a family. Not everyone will understand those traditions or fun things, but that's o.k. Others don't have to understand them, we as a family enjoy them, and that's all that matters. We have fun, we laugh, we play, we get goofy, we do things together, we do things separately. And the way we do things will look different than the way another family does things. But we all are making memories and having special times. My kids bring up the craziest things as fond memories to them, and I'm touched that they remember them with such joy.
So that is what I'm going to start to try to do. Yes, come out of my comfort zone when the Lord guides me too. But also remember I don't have to be like other mothers. I am the wife and mother the Lord wants this family to have. I have a hard time remembering that, thinking I need to be more. All I need is to focus on the Lord and what He has for me to do.
Thank you Lord for putting us four together as a family. Thank you that we have the same crazy sense of humor and we enjoy each other. Thank you for showing me, through a conversation with my 12yo daughter, how much you have called us to just be us. I praise you for that. Thank you.
lol!!!! You sound just like me!!! Hubby and I plan to bake a batch of cookies with Little One, but we don't make it into a week long ordeal. That's not me. We do other things as a family. What we do the most if watch movies with our children. I know most people don't consider that good interaction, but we get snuggled up, LO usually sits on my lap and get cozy about it. That was one of the things that Hubby and I have in common, we love the same shows and movies and our kids seem to be just like us. LO is always talking about his favorite shows/ movies. PC has broader interests, but he also loves movie time. My point, it's being together and being happy about it that counts. I don't have the energy to bake all day, so to me it's not worth it. I'm glad your daughter feels the same way so you don't have to feel guilty about it. :)
Sound like you are being a sweet mama and wife. I am glad you are finding your balance and finding what is important to you and your family. I only make a few things and that is it. I have decided NOT to make a ton of goodies to give away. I will make enough for us to enjoy and then a little to share on Christmas day and that is ...it. I did share my "NO Fail shortbread cookie recipe if you want to store it for the future. [0;
YEA BABY!! Good for you the excitement in your post got me excited, I can be a similiar type person too, I prefer to do all the cooking and baking and what not, then I realized thats what my mother did too, and unfortunatly I was left ill prepared for sharing such tasks with my own kids, but like you I am learning a bit at a time to just do it for the kids sake and shoot might be fun after all!!
I think it comes down to balance.
I tend to run with an idea and go overboard and i have learned that i need to just take a babystep.
I bought my cookie cutters for gingerbread men six years ago. Every year i have felt guilty when Christmas passed and i hadn't got around to making those cookies (or any cookie or pie for that matter). Tonight we made the cookies. One batch. A babystep that took six years to take. It was fun, but that's all i'm doing.
Sarah needs to be in the kitchen with you just enough to know what to do and to be a help. My mom crippled me by not allowing me in her kitchen. I didn't have a clue when i got married. So, it's good for Sarah to learn, but stop when it becomes a drag.
And keep having fun together in your own special way.
This blog is so I can share my journey with the Lord, my journey as a wife and mother, and my journey as a homeschool mom. I pray that you will see the Lord in my life through happy and sad times, and that this blog glorifies the Lord.
This is an award and tag free zone, thank you.
I think I get just as excited about our breaks as the kids do. 
