- Congratulations to Ginger The Bargain Queen of Attention Target Shoppers! and AdLib Corner. She won the $10 Amazon Gift Card. I understand she has a nifty new Kindle (What, ME jealous?) that needs loading up. Go for it Ginger!
- Friday night we signed the entire family up for a new gym. I’m filing the HUGE upfront expense under Health and Entertainment expenses in the budget in order to make it fit. Racquetball and swimming are entertaining, right? I’m curious to see who starts whining about being dragged to the gym first, me or the teenagers. Confidentially? I think it may be me.
- The dirty bird is defrosting in the fridge for a simple Thanksgiving at home for the four of us. The relations all seem cool with our plans for abbreviated time with the extended family. The more abbreviated, the better.
- The crumbling bathtub wall was re-tiled this morning, and the dishwasher install guys are here as we speak. Whew! This here house keeps me drowning in repair jobs, but I think I may make land before our holiday house guest, our Darling Elizabeth arrives on the 6th.
I’ve decided to spend the next two weeks doing what I can, as I have time, and simplifying everywhere I’m able. Chances are good I’ll be a spazz anyway until the holidays are over.
Now fess up, how do you deal with holiday stress? Do you have to fight the temptation to take on more than you can gracefully handle? Do you embrace the dfficult people in your life or distance yourself from them during the holidays? I’m nosey. I wanna know.
11 responses so far ↓
1
Ginger
// Nov 24, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Thanks for the link love first of all. I really appreciate you linking to me.
How do I handle holiday stress? I live 6 hours away from the nearest relative or child. If anyone wants to come, I know it in plenty of time. I keep it simple around here. You know, blogging is my life so who has time to cook? This year, I am purchasing the deserts (a first for me). I can’t justify making them because it is cheaper to purchase.
Next, I am old enough to know that you can feel torn in half (if not more fractions) if you allow people to make you feel that way. For me, I state MY plans early in the season like about September. I also state whether we are up for company or not from the siblings. The kids - eh, they are always welcome and they know it. They all have keys so as long as they don’t act like this is a hotel, the more the merrier.
I’ve just done my holiday cleaning. Decorations will go up this weekend. The house will only get a lick and a promise until the trim comes down after today. Most of the shopping is done. Just some wrapping. All the food is purchased for the most part since I stockpile.
Bottom line for me is unless others are paying my bills, I do what I want to do. I am not rude, just firm. I only volunteer to do those things that make me happy. I don’t sweat the small stuff and I remember it is my life and I am in the drivers seat. I try to remember the reason for the season and not make it about my perfection but HIS. I do what I can as I can.
My last tip is just pack up and go away for the holidays. It is actually cheaper than staying home. We’ve done that too. Eat out, go to the movies, sip hot chocolate in some coffee shop and find some local concert. It can be fulfilling and uplifting.
Happy holidays and thanks for my FIRST gift!
Ginger
Gingers last blog post..Target Coupon- Manufacturer Match-up
2
MommyNamedApril
// Nov 24, 2008 at 9:43 pm
wish i had a good answer… i usually end up a crumbled sobbing mess on the bathroom floor by the time the holidays are over. i should probably learn some coping skills :-/
MommyNamedAprils last blog post..It Only Seems Fitting…
3
Mz. Nesbit
// Nov 24, 2008 at 11:50 pm
hi!
I personally LOVE LOVE LOVE the holidays but i DON’T love the undue inlaw stress. I haven’t found a fully functional way of handling it yet, I would love some pointers if you have some!!
Are you going to post pics of all your house doings?
:o)
Mz. Nesbits last blog post..Fun Fact Friday
4
Janet
// Nov 25, 2008 at 9:42 am
Our closest relatives are 3 hours away. We’re pretty lucky in that none of them are THAT annoying. I attribute this to the fact that I was over 40 when I had kids, and everyone was so shocked and grateful that they don’t want to be obnoxious for fear we won’t bring said kids to come see them.
Janets last blog post..Move Over, Martha
5
Green Girl
// Nov 25, 2008 at 10:11 am
I adore that you joined a gym as a family–I hope you ALL stick with it and enjoy your membership. And well done to put limits on extended family. We did that and I’ve been thankful ever since. I think they are too. When Mr. T was born we declared Christmas off limits–we’ll visit one family the weekend before, the other the weekend after and split Easter and Thanksgiving between them. My sisters-in-law who live in town with D’s family were DELIGHTED I got them off the hook!
Green Girls last blog post..One Word Challenge
6
Ree
// Nov 25, 2008 at 11:16 am
Holiday stress? I ignore it and eventually it goes away. Sometime around February 28th - after Ramadan & Eid, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years (Mr. Hot’s birthday), Dad’s birthday, my sister’s birthday….
Sigh.
Rees last blog post..Thirty-Nine & Twenty-Four
7
Keely
// Nov 25, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Mostly I lose myself in baked goods.
Thankfully, our house is teeny teeny so we never have to host anything. Hm. I may have subconsciously planned it that way.
Keelys last blog post..In which I alienate a lot of people
8
monstergirlee
// Nov 26, 2008 at 12:42 am
Poorly, I fuss and get upset and pissy and sullen, go back and forth between happy & sad and anrgy. pretty poor sport I am sometimes. I’m just so tired of being so busy all the time. work full time, 2 little kids to take care of, and do a good job at christmas? I try. I do listen to a lot of christmas music, that makes me smile.
monstergirlees last blog post..Out of Town Day 2 (Live from Minneapolis!)
9
monstergirlee
// Nov 26, 2008 at 12:44 am
sorry for the poor me comment. yuk.
monstergirlees last blog post..Out of Town Day 2 (Live from Minneapolis!)
10
Mandy
// Nov 29, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Holiday stress?? We live pretty far from family, so although we travel often and see each other, we actually haven’t spent the Holidays together for the last 8 years. I love it! It’s just a private time with my husband and our girls–we do the fun things we want to do as a fmaily and some community service. And, of course, great food.:)
Mandys last blog post..Pomegranate & Strawberry Chilled Soup
11
Forgetfulone
// Nov 30, 2008 at 9:08 pm
I have become better the last few years about saying no. I tend to take on more than one person should, and it’s difficult to say no when it’s for a good cause. But, I can’t help every cause - I have to remind myself of that - and I have a large family to take care of.
I decided to forgo the huge Thanksgiving festivities at my in-laws this year and opted instead for a simple dinner with just my mom. Sister is out of town, dad passed four years ago. I couldn’t be happier with my choice. So much less stress!
Forgetfulones last blog post..Sunday Scrappin’
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