The great thing about the holidays is getting to spend so much time together.
Yes — all that lovely family time — spent in close quarters.
Time to hug, snuggle up on the couch, and spread the love around.
And, we’ve certainly had a lot to share this year.
In fact, during the last few weeks, we’ve sort of turned it into a competition at our house. And we’ve tested just about every which way we can trade around the various illnesses that have plagued our family this holiday season.
It’s like the gift that keeps on giving.
But, in truth, it seems I get sick about this time, every year. It’s become a sort of special time to look forward to. A time when I can get nothing done, but just be thankful to still be breathing.
Drat kids. Since having children, I spend more time sick than ever before. This wasn’t on the warning label.
“Are you being good right now?” I asked my boys up until the final days of Christmas.
“No,” they admitted honestly.
“I’m not sure if Santa will stop by our house this year at all,” I responded.
“But we are trying. We will be better.”
I think they’re trying to operate under the truth that two negatives make a positive.
Yes, for my kids, the Christmas countdown made staying on the good list even harder than getting there in the first place.
But their continuing (failed) efforts, reminded me that even if you come up short of your goals, don’t throw in the towel; keep giving it thought and effort, and you will get there (eventually).
And now that it’s a new year, you have a chance for a fresh start.
As for making those dreaded New Year’s Resolutions (you know, the things we’ve wanted to change about ourselves for the last five years) … it’s time for a clean slate.
This year, let’s not think on what we need to change about ourselves (i.e., lose weight, work less, quit smoking), but instead, focus on what we want for ourselves.
Feeling down that the Christmas tree your kids helped you decorate, the fridge covered in magnets and artwork all askew, the fresh cookie crumbs on the floor, and the living room full of trampled toys, don’t look quite like a scene out of Better Homes and Gardens Magazine?
Trust me, I’ve been there, too. But, don’t worry. These are the best kinds of messes to have — the kind that come from embracing life and enjoying every moment.
So, my new philosophy is all about striving to keep the clean, messy house.
Nobody wants an all-out dirty house. But a messy house is different; it is one full of life, love, laughter … and resulting debris.
If a spotless, impeccable house is your heart’s desire, just remember, not everything that looks great on the outside always is.
The animal cracker confetti, piles of dirty dishes, glitter in the carpet and magic marker on the dining room table, are all just signs of life.
Let’s be honest, you can’t do a whole lot in life without making a mess. And where’s the fun if you can’t get your hands a little dirty?
My youngest son looked out the front window in the early morning and asked, “Who punched those down?”
I looked up and saw he was referring to the Christmas yard inflatables lying flat on our front lawn. Yes, I suppose it was quite a shock to see poor Rudolph and the Swim Team Polar Bear forming melted puddles on the ground.
I laughed, “Nobody punched them; they’re just sleeping because their fans aren’t running.”
His comment amused me, but then I started thinking (even when it looks bad), we have to remember, things aren’t always as they seem.
When I was little, I was so excited I literally could not sleep on Christmas Eve. The hours would slowly tick by, while the anticipation for what was to come kept me tossing and turning, looking at the clock.
Santa, the reindeer, the joy, the magic … it was all so thrilling, and more than I could handle.
As we age, though, Christmas magic seems to somehow lose its luster.
I spent my teenage years setting an alarm clock, so my parents wouldn’t be too disappointed that I didn’t spring out of bed to see if Santa came.
But now that I’m grown, I see Christmas in a different light. The magic is still there; it’s just not like it seems when you are a child.
What I didn’t understand at the time is that Christmas is about more than a man in a red suit. And the true meaning of the season comes from within — it comes from your heart.
Having Christmas spirit is the ability to delight in the joy of others; realizing the most important gifts in life aren’t the things under your tree; seeing the excitement of a child; listening to laughter and cozying up on the couch; or having a cup of hot cocoa as you watch The Polar Express together.
Christmas is about coming together and celebrating each other. It’s about having joy for the things you have, hope for the things to come, and faith that everything is as it should be.
Now is the time to open your hearts to the real magic of Christmas and the love the season holds. Grab your friends and family and sing a song, bake some cookies, build a snowman, or just drive around and look at lights.
It’s never too late — or the wrong time — to get together, reconnect, and spread holiday cheer.
I’ve heard a lot of people say they’re tired of Christmas by the time it actually rolls around.
But don’t let holiday shopping, commercialism and email marketing turn you off to it altogether.
Ignore the hype and let the subtle sweetness of the season draw you in.
As you know, marshmallows melt when you put them in hot chocolate; but you know they’re still there, because you can taste them.
Christmas is about more than what you can see on the surface.
Make your kids remember, it’s not how many packages under the tree that’s important. It’s about the love behind the people that give the gifts that really matters.
Love is something you can’t always necessarily see, and some people even aren’t the best at showing it. But yet, as I said, things aren’t always as they seem. And the best way to get love is to give it first. Let the magic begin with you.
Winter isn’t coming this year … at least at my house. In fact, my children seem to believe they can ward it off altogether by starting an all-out rebellion against it.
The boys say they just won’t have it. And to demonstrate their dedication to the cause, they refuse to wear coats, shoes remain optional (let’s not start with the socks), and they burst into tears when I force them to put on pants.
And as all good rebels do, they’ve fought the system, and made way to bend — perhaps stretch — the rules as much as they can.
And by doing so, they’ve invented a brand new look.
My youngest actually coined the fashion statement, but my older son quickly followed suit. The sleeveless sweater vest — as a stand-alone clothing item — pants remain optional. They say it is all too practical, because they don’t have the bulk of long sleeves, but yet they’re kept quite warm by the weight of the sweater. In fact, they tell me, there’s really no need even for a jacket, because the vest is self-sufficient.
Sometimes it’s important to reminisce — to bask in the past, and relish on what has been.
It’s good to just go through old things and remember when, laugh at yourself, and stir up feelings of long ago.
Every now and then I love to get in and dig out those old photos of friends, love letters my husband gave me (when he still had to work at it), and a few of my children’s baby clothes I just can’t seem to part with.
While our interests tend to revolve around what’s happening right now, and what’s trending on social media, walking down memory lane can actually be good for you.
Not only does it help you remember the good times, but it also shows you how far you’ve come, and more importantly, who has been by your side while doing it.
The idea of shopping for many women (and some men) makes thoughts of sugarplums dance in your head. And with so many avenues to do it — through windows, online, in a catalog, and physically standing in a store — this is undoubtedly the best time of year for it. In fact, the National Retail Federation forecasts holiday sales to be at $630.5 billion this year.
Hold up, I want to change that image in your head from a beautifully-wrapped Christmas gift, to a buggy full of food. OK, this time, I’m talking grocery shopping — yes, perhaps a little less appealing.
Grocery shopping with your children; I’ve now made good thoughts disappear altogether — the sugarplums have left the building — and you’re probably hunkering down, cringing, and trying to crawl underneath the table.
Let’s just say, it’s a subject we don’t typically like to discuss.
