Right now, I am writing this post, eating sweet potato chips, admiring my Christmas tree, and watching Baby Linus nap in his carseat. His big sister is napping, too, so I have an undetermined amount of time to do whatever I want. My options are almost endless. Aside from the fact that I can’t (shouldn’t!) leave the house, there so many things I could do: read a book, do some laundry, check Facebook, start a new project. You get the idea.
And you. Right now, you are reading this blog and doing God only knows what else. Perhaps sipping some coffee, watching TV, or trying to get motivated to organize your work emails. Whatever. Chances are good that you’re multitasking—if not physically, then perhaps mentally. And I’m honored to have garnered your attention if only for a few moments, because let’s face it—you have a lot to do. We all do, especially during this time of year.
I don’t know about you, but I sometimes forget to have fun. Or relax. But over the next few weeks, I’m going to take a cue from my two-year-old and focus my attention on the silly, the luxurious, and the festive. My girl knows how to have a good time. While I might feel ridiculous modeling my holiday finery in front of the hallway mirror or running laps between the kitchen and the living room, I can certainly find some “big girl” equivalents.
I will go to dinner with my girlfriends, enjoy a single glass of juicy red wine after the kids have gone to bed, and wear something fun for the hell of it. I might just don some pajamas, kick up my feet, and manage to read a chapter or two. I will view the essential animated Christmas shows with Linnea and talk Josh into watching my favorite holiday chick flicks, too. Sure, I will still do most of the banal chores that need to get done around here, but at the end of each day, I better be able to say that I took a few moments just to enjoy myself, to enjoy the holidays.
My kids are still sleeping, so it’s time to go for it. I sense a good book and a cup of hot cocoa in my immediate future. It may only last ten minutes, but that’s something.
*****
I Want to Know
What do you do to unwind and enjoy the season?
How do you strike a balance this time of year between checklists and enjoying the moment?
Visit me at my other blog, Divorced Before 30, where I’m taking guest-post submissions. Find me on twitter @emmasota. And, if you haven’t already, please visit emmasota on Facebook and click “Like!”
Build a fort.
Oh, you know Linnea would love that. Do you prefer the blanket fort or the snow fort? I built my share of both back in the day. My brothers and I even built one in a tree in the “woods” behind our subdivision.
SO true. It’s so easy to forget to have fun during the holidays, between jamming it all in, seeing family, requisite visits etc. Great post! (for me, I pick and choose the gatherings I go to, as much as I can, and spend the most time with those I truly WANT to. Easier said than done sometimes!)
Yeah, our holidays are especially busy because we have a ton of family birthdays this month. December is pretty much about family for us these days, so I’m glad that we haven’t been invited to any other parties! It’s nice that my company holiday party is always in January–SUCH a good idea.
This is such a terrific reminder! I was just thinking last night that I often manufacture my own stress during the holidays by running around to events just because they’re there.
My husband and I actually just declined a party invitation for this weekend because we decided we’d rather stay in on Saturday night and hang out in our pajamas. It might not sound exciting (I think a younger version of me is rolling her eyes…), but somehow we’ve been forgetting to enjoy ourselves in all the holiday merriment and being at home together sounded like more fun than anything else.
It’s official: we’re old!
I love the phrase “manufacture my own stress.” So true!
Good for you for hanging out in your pajamas. I’m officially old, too, so I can totally relate.
I am REALLY looking forward to unplugging (for the most part) and unwinding this next week. It has been too long!!