Tis the season to hustle and bustle, shop til you drop, send out cards, get family pictures, wrap gifts, bake cookies, host christmas get togethers, go to christmas parties, blah blah blah! Tis the season to be jolly? If you go to the mall today and walk around will you see happy people or people frantically fighting the crowds trying to get the latest gift or finish their shopping? People are scowling and cranky while christmas carols sing on the loud speakers. Realistically, Christmas prep is an ugly situation and I'm not one to judge. I've been that cranky woman walking through the mall, freaking out because I can't find the latest, hottest gift for a certain someone. I am frantically wrapping presents or trying to get my christmas baking done or my christmas letter out in time. Its rush rush rush instead of sitting back and enjoying. I read a good blog today about forgetting to sit back and breathe and relax. Basically letting things be. And tonight after we got the kids all bathed and fed them bed time snacks, I sat on our couch nursing Henry and watched Kurtis read Rory and Jack (my 5 and 3 year old) a bed time story. The kids were care free. They laughed at the book and listened intently. When the book was done and Kurtis said "time to brush teeth, its bed time", they didn't jump up frantic, rush around to to get ready and settled into bed. Instead they took their time. Somedays I would have been saying "Hurry up! Quit doddling!" In fact today I was doing that as my daughter was getting ready for her dance class. I am saddened when I think about how I reacted today in a rush to get her out the door for dance. I was flustered because she needed to eat supper before dance today, then we had to be at dance, then I had a half hour while she was dancing to feed everyone else, get them changed into clothes for a family a picture at my parents, and then still be at dance in time to watch Rory's last 5 minutes of her class. I was snappy at the kids, I was snappy at my husband and what for? What good did it do? Nothing. No one works well under pressure. I like to live with no regrets and even though I do not like how I reacted today while getting things organized, I learned a valuable lesson in the process. Tonight when Rory was walking from the bathroom to her room, I called her over to me and gave her a hug and said "I love you". I say I love you to my kids every night but tonight I looked them right in the eye, I made sure they felt the words and not just heard them.
With Christmas approaching I want to worry less about a perfectly wrapped gift or a perfectly iced cookie. I want the cookies to be iced with happy kids full of sprinkles and giggles. I want to take time to watch people open their gifts from me and gage their reactions and enjoy their enjoyment. I want to take a minute to kiss and hug each and every one of my nephews and niece. I want to say I love you to my family and dear friends. I want to find time to enjoy good company. I want to relax and worry less. I have a tattoo on my arm that says "Love More Worry Less". I think its time I look down at that tattoo and do just that!
Here's to every one slowing down and enjoying this season. Worry less about the decorations, a clean house, getting your baking and wrapping done. Instead, sit back and snuggle with your loved ones. Today, with your family, is a gift, cherish it and I will do the same.
Merry Christmas.
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