The theme this month all throughout the MomsZone.org site as well as throughout my mom friends is the craziness this time of year brings. It seems to me this year more people are acknowledging it than ever before. Isn’t that the first step to getting help?
No doubt as a mom every day has a certain amount of stress. No matter the age of the children, you worry and fret over their schedule and if they have what they need both physically and emotionally. Then, the holidays come along and it doesn’t matter what your religion or holiday traditions are, they all involve stress.
I don’t handle stress particularly well. I admit it. Here I will admit it, not at home in front of my husband but you are all my friends. Here’s the thing. I don’t see where it benefits me or the person I am shopping for to go from shop to shop or website to website fretting over what to get someone and how much to spend and the message it sends and how to wrap it or get it to them when they will get it and most likely be disappointed, want to return it or re-gift it. Seems like a lot of wasted time on both parts.
In the past I have depended on gift cards to lighten my load and conscience and thought that at least a gift card to someplace I know the person shops or dines would show my thoughtfulness while keeping me from losing my mind over the wrapping issue. By the way, the only wrapping I ever do is rap and that isn’t good either.
Now I am told that those gift cards have fees and that they too are considered inconsiderate and a last minute gift. Well, I say we all blame the recession on all things holiday related and just go back to giving our hearts and well meaning cards to each other. Save money, save time and save guilt. I really don’t NEED anything and what I want I probably won’t share with anyone because it is too expensive for anyone to get me. I would LOVE to get a card that said what a great friend I am or what a great mom or wife I am. Really, when do we as moms or wives ever get acknowledged and appreciated?
I am trying to simplify my life and by taking whatever measure I can to de-stress the holidays I will. Sharon Silver suggested at the Moms Night Out event at Changing Hands Bookstore this month that planning ahead and getting things done early will help with stress because you’re not trying to get it all done in a short time frame. This also helps our children who seem to need even more of our undivided attention at this time of year when they ask if we will play with them. You’re much more likely to take a few minutes to play with them when they ask if you aren’t beating a deadline. I will try that as well.
I wish that when people said, “Remember the reason for the season.” They meant it and didn’t run around all frantic. I hope that as you read this if you have a great way to de-stress the holidays you will share them in the comments. I will give the person with the best suggestion a prize in January.
Tara, I appreciate your view on the holiday season and empathize with you (or more likely, suffer with you LOL). This year my girlfriends and I tried a food meal co-op to de-stress our daily lives. Dinner is always a hectic time in our household, the phone is ringing, kids want to play but need to sit and work on homework, I’m frustrated because of the ingredient that I forgot at the grocery store, and I still have hopes of getting everything cleaned up and making it to that class at the gym.
To remedy, myself and 3 friends (with families of 4) assigned each other days of the week and we rotate protein categories (chicken, beef, pasta, other). That means Mon-Wed dinner gets dropped off, ready to eat, on my front doorstep. I cook for the other families one day a week (Thurs) and take to them. Dishes are minimal and new recipes are enjoyed! I encourage anyone to try it with your friends. We have enjoyed it so much. My stress levels are down and everything gets done in the evenings with time to spare.