Christmas as an adult definitely is a lot more stressful than I had ever anticipated. I still love all of the traditions and the magic of the holiday season but I couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed this year. There's a lot of pressure to make sure your kids have the "perfect" Christmas experience. There's the baking, the gift purchasing and wrapping. The trip to see Santa Claus and preparations for family and friend get togethers. Christmas cards to get out (which will be late because I put them in the mail on the 23rd), groceries to buy and food to make for the big day. And in the midst of this, trying to teach my 3 and 5-year-olds what the true meaning of Christmas is. No pressure!
I was reading one of my favorite Christmas stories to Livi the other night. It's called "Mooseltoe" and it's about a dad who tries to create the perfect Christmas for his family but forgets to get a Christmas tree. In the end, he finds a solution that's not "perfect" but is pretty close. As I finished reading it, I thought about how much pressure we put on ourselves during the holiday season. Traditions and activities that are supposed to be fun and be part of that "perfect" Christmas turn into disasters because I'm overstressed and short on patience. I'm pretty sure when I was baking sugar cookies with my kids a couple of weeks ago I was yelling at them after about 10 minutes of their "help." It made me so angry at myself that I projected my stress onto them. So, with all the stress leading up to the holidays, I was expecting Christmas to be stressful as well. I'm not going to lie. I was getting a little short with my kids while I was trying to bathe and dress them and myself for church but the conversation on the way into church dissipated the stress I was feeling and changed the whole mood of the season. We were discussing how we were celebrating Jesus' birthday and a heated debate between Livi and Will ensued about whether Jesus was a boy or girl...Will thinks he's a girl which most likely has something to do with the fact that the statue of Jesus at church has long hair and is wearing a "dress." I couldn't help but laugh at the kids' conversation and how seriously they were arguing their sides, and then at myself for getting so caught up in all this holiday frenzy. I decided it was time for me to chill out and just enjoy this time with my family.
And I really did, after mass we came home for pizza (a Primrose tradition), opened a present, and then enjoyed an evening playing games, reading stories and preparing for Santa's arrival. Livi left a bag of toys by the door they had collected from their room for Santa to take to other boys and girls. She was very giving while Will needed a little persuasion. He kept trying to give away Livi's toys and stuffed his footie pajamas clear full of toys he was afraid would get taken away from him. Maybe next year...At bedtime the kids convinced me to let them lay in our bed. I laid between them and it was hard not getting caught up in their excitement as they talked and giggled about their anticipation for the next day. Livi fell asleep and as Will calmed down he grabbed my face and said, "You're the best mommy in the world!" Ok, so he's not extremely giving but he is incredibly sweet.
Of course the excitement was contagious again today as the kids woke up and raced downstairs. Will's face was absolutely priceless as he spied the workbench he requested. Livi got her pogo stick and loved it even though she wasn't able to use it yet. They loved their gifts and we enjoyed spending time with them playing games and with their toys all day long. Even Lexi seemed to be enjoying the day and let us hear some of her giggles for the first time.
So, I may have failed to make Christmas "perfect". My Christmas cards are late, my house was not perfectly clean, and I'm pretty sure we were in our pajamas all day long but I got to spend Christmas at home with my three kids and husband (plus parents and brother) just hanging out and playing with toys all day. I truly enjoyed my children and that is what made my Christmas perfect.
As I look back on the past month, I feel relieved that we are over the craziness of the holiday season and that I can relax and enjoy my kids again. As look back at the past two days, I wish time would stand still and we could experience this feeling every day of the year...the excitement and the enthusiasm of the season. I need to write a memo to myself around the middle of November 2013...Don't stress. Enjoy your kids and the magic of the season. Be thankful for all God has given you. Maybe that note will help me take it day by day and remember I don't need all of that craziness to make my Christmas perfect enough.
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