Slowing Down for the Holidays

I admit to feeling a little overwhelmed today. Life has been a whirlwind since Thanksgiving and I can’t quite wrap my head around the idea that we’re halfway through December already. We impulsively drove to San Francisco after Thanksgiving and spent a few days wandering and enjoying family. Weekday soccer practice and all day Saturday/Sunday tournaments ate most of the remaining time after our typical weekly meetings and tasks once we returned. In between I’ve been stealing moments to enjoy my favorite holiday of them all and yet I’m struggling to feel caught up. My parents are arriving in three days to stay for three weeks. Gifts have yet to be purchased and packaged. Most of the decorating is done but I’m not yet there. The house needs to be cleaned. Christmas cards? Forget it! I’ve met all my guest posting and ebook contribution deadlines but I’m frustrated that I can’t finish my own posts and program for January.

So right now I’m taking a moment to remind and recover. I might be feeling behind but I have enjoyed the fullness of the past few weeks as our family has gotten into the holiday swing. The kids and I have had lots of fun decorating and singing and making and baking. It’s not too late to savor all that is yet to come and start looking at this moment right here, right now. It’s not a race but a rooting in what is real. This list is to remind myself of what I’ve done/plan to do to make this a memorable and enjoyable December:

light candles        turn on pandora’s indie christmas station to play in the background

hang lights in unexpected places: over your kitchen sink, across from the bathtub, behind your bed

make birdfeeders        roll out sugar cookies

ice skating for fresh air and fun      walk around the block and look at the decorations

do not go to the mall     order online      ship directly to the recipient

set the table– don’t have seasonal things? Make red and green place cards, voila!

pick one book and read a little bit each night- great for family time

don’t send out Christmas cards- wait until the New Year and send them when it’s less hectic. They will be a real treat then to the recipients.

gift cards, gift cards, gift cards!- not tacky, useful and generous and easy; don’t you like choosing your own gift, too?

resist the urge to attend everything. Pick two or three events for the entire month.

delegate      just this once, hire a housecleaner

take a bath– with your kids if you must, but let some warm

water relax your muscles

let go of perfection     notice the charm

invite your kids to wrap gifts or trim the tree- let their efforts be good enough and don’t “fix” their results

hang a wreath on your front door     family movie nights