This is a time of year when many of us give and give and give of ourselves even more than usual. There are school functions, church functions, social functions, family obligations and they all happen in this short time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day! This is a busy season!!! All the more reason to join the Simplify the Season Band-wagon, right? This is quite possibly my favorite part of Simplifying the Season! (Yes, even more than shopping!) Before we go any further I want to remind all of us that it is important to take time for ourselves… especially in this busy season.
For the longest time I thought I didn't have the time to do things just for me. I thought that it was selfish to make time just for me. I am a fairly low maintenance gal. The extra five minutes daily in the shower, visiting a local gift/antique shop ALONE, the weekly self-manicure, the monthly massage appointment, taking a few evening minutes to read a book or watch (even part) of a movie - all make me better. I'm a better servant, a better spouse, a better mom, a better friend, a whole better me when I do these things.
Don't forget about you this Christmas Season. Make a plan. Put it on your calendar. Don’t neglect time for you. And because I love to hear from each and every one of you… let me know about your favorite thing for you! I had one busy mom tell me that she will hide in the bathroom with a book or magazine for 15 minutes just to keep herself sane! No matter how big or how small, remember to take care of yourself.
While you have your planner out sliding in some time for yourself, hedge your bets. Schedule a day this week to pay bills, balance your checkbook, do the filing, catch up on phone calls – all the little mundane tasks that you usually do all month long. Even with a Simplified Season, things can and will sneak up on you.
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As for the matter of our little contest… share with me your favorite family tradition. It can be a tradition you remember from childhood or one that you have started with your own family. Share all week long, if you like. The contest will close at midnight EST Saturday December 13, 2008. A random drawing will be performed and the winner will be announced in Sunday’s weekly blog. Start sharing!!!
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We have a tradition that involved Christmas Eve gifts. We always open one gift on Christmas Eve, and several years ago we started getting gifts that follow a theme. The theme always has something to do with the Christmas story - stars, angels, shepherds - and we always read the story first, then give the kids the theme gifts. It's a fun challenge to pick a theme and find gifts for it, and it helps our kids relate the gifts to Jesus' birth.
Every year we pick out one Chrismas ornament to give each of our adult children for their tree. What started it was remembering our childhood christmas tree that was packed with special ornaments that held memories of the giver. Those ornaments were always handled with extra care as the story of who gave them and when was told. We try to select ones that are unique, and relate the true meaning of Christmas. Since they live so far away it is our way of connecting to them. Hopefully a tradition that they will pass on to our granchildren.
In our home, as small children we were allowed to sleep under the tree on Christmas Eve...or at least fall asleep there gazing up at the reflections of the lights on the ceiling...then Daddy would cart us off to bed to awaken with delight on Christmas morning. We also open one special gift on Christmas eve...as kids it was a gift for our far away grandmother or a favorite cousin and now...We get the kids a new pair of PJs on Christmas eve so our Chirstmas morning pj pictures look fresh and clean, not worn out, too small or holey...LOL! Call me a snob, but I hate looking at my childhood pics when we were just wearing ugly, ragged t-shirts someone gave my dad.
My favorite tradition as a child was having to wait until my dad checked the room the tree was in to 'make sure santa had come' before we could go open our gifts. Not sure why. what child looks foward to having to wait even longer before opening gifts? and I never believed in santa as a child anyway- but it was just something we always did and I always liked it. And I still do it with my kids- who also have never belived in Santa, but are more impatient about getting to the gifts than I was. Every year we make the kids wait until my husband checks to make sure Santa was here before we all go open gifts. As I got older I realized my parents did this to make sure they didn't forget to put anything out under the tree- but still liked the tradition. My kids and my husband think it is silly, but they appease me.
Let's se.... Ah, yes. The Sunday after Thanksgiving, we tuck away all the pumpkins and leaves (in an organized way, of course!) and pull out the GINORMOUS blue Rubbermaid with the Christmas stuff. We set up the tree and put on the lights and tinsel. Then the boys get to have at it! They pick out the ornaments and place them where they deem acceptable. They usually choose the ones they made at school in past years. Then, we choose some of the other little knick-knacks to set out. If there is time, we hang the snowmen and other hand made items (again, from school years past) in the window. Some times that is left for another day. This is when we break out the Christmas CDs and get our first taste of our favorite Christmas music. It is a good compromise to wait until Thanksgiving is over before moving on to Christmas, but not making everyone wait too long.
As a child we would decorate the tree the day after Thanksgiving. Then we would sit around the tree and sing Christmas songs. We would have some hot cocoa and Christmas cookies. It really got us into the Christmas spirit. Now that I'm married and with kids of my own, we do the same. It's a holiday tradition I still very much enjoy!
Thank you all for your comments about the wonderful memories and traditions you have with your families! The contest is now closed, but feel free to continue to post about traditions AND about ways that you take time for you. The winner will be announced in this weekend's regular blog post. ~J
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