So how are we doing so far? I'm checking in with 8 days until Turkey Day and 36 days until Christmas to report that while I still feel overwhelmed, I've been successful in toning down/cutting back/simplifying my Holiday process. I'm also happy to report that I have yet to beat myself up internally about not keeping up w/the image of that "perfect" Christmas that the media and marketing folks love to portray on every single television ad out right now. I admit, as silly as it seems, that when I saw those ads flash across the screen with the perfectly clean kitchen, warm Christmas cookies on the counter, and a perfectly dressed happy family of models who most likely don't even know each other in real life....I would allow those images to feed my anxiety of trying to create such a wonderfully perfect holiday. You the best part of this little experiment I'm doing this year?
Letting go of that image I had in my head of a perfect Christmas, and allowing myself to focus on what is really important has made me see that I've already been creating my own version of that image all along! I started to realize that some of the little quirky things I've done w/my kids their whole lives at Christmas have become traditions. Like giving them a pair of new, warm PJ's every Christmas Eve just before they go to bed. They've come to not just expect these things, but I've learned my son actually would be upset if the traditional PJ gift didn't happen. Another realization I had is that while I've been rushing around like a crazy woman every Christmas Eve trying to cook and prepare for the whole family to come to my house after church that evening, that I've created the "chili" tradition (I make a huge batch of homemade chili w/all the fixins) So while I never set out to create traditions by doing these things, and they may have been born out of simple cost cutting reasons, I unknowingly have started some of my own family traditions that mean something to others and warm their hearts during the Holiday Season.
I hope everyone allows themselves some quiet time to look up, take it all in, and appreciate their version of the perfect family holiday and let go of any images or standards they have put upon themselves or that others have put upon them this Holiday season....When I allowed myself to do this I was so pleasantly surprised to find I already have the ideal family Christmas. My children are healthy, my family-as crazy as they can be sometimes- comes together, good food is enjoyed, and even if it is for one day....all is right in my world.
