I try really hard not to get burned out at Christmas time. I want it to be peaceful, spiritual, and magical for my family.
We don't send Christmas cards--opting instead to send Valentine's during the less hectic month of February.
We don't buy tons of presents--just a few.
We try to get the shopping done early--so there's time to breathe.
And Yet.
Two dentist trips in the past week,
3 car/key experiences with all three kids(at the Dodge dealer, Jiffy Lube, and Les Schwab),
a million papers to read and grade,
cleaning up myriad toys,
emptying the dishwasher 8 million times so I can empty the sink 8 million times,
90.5 billion blow-out diaper changes
with 45.25 subsequent washing and drying experiences,
plus Young Women's,
plus visiting teaching,
plus dropping off cookies for friends,
plus Doug deciding to apply for more jobs, which leaves me with kids at unplanned times (like when I need to visit teach at the bishop's wife's house--where she concedes that her porcelain house is not child-proof),
plus everything else.
And I just need a Rip Van Winkle nap, a fluffy book, and cuddling with my sweetheart.
Instead, I'll go get my kids from their naps, help them clean their rooms and read them stories, feed Brooklyn, bathe all of them, and get dinner finished (after having already spent an hour making a lasagna for tonight and one for the freezer).
I am getting burned out.
And we're leaving to go to Arizona in two days. Which means I should probably start packing.
So there's a snapshot of my life, and I keep trying to breathe, and remember the spirit and magic of Christmas.
And here's the dialogue. Christine inspired me, and I want to remember the instance:
A few nights ago, I noticed Doug spreading jam on his toast, and this was our conversation:
Tara: Oh good, you're using the jam. I hope you like it.
Doug: (keeps spreading) It's good.
Tara: Because I got it for you, because you're so picky--it isn't chunky, and it isn't preserves, and it doesn't have seeds...
Doug: (looking at his toast in admiration) Smuckers has done it again! Best batch yet!
Maybe you had to be there, but I love that it illuminates my desire to be praised for every single thing I do, and Doug is hilarious. He puts up with a lot. If you haven't heard me on this particular soapbox, I'll just let you know that Doug has to put up with a lot. And I'm sorry for his sake, but so grateful for him.
5 comments:
I love dialogue! Decker's jam choice is seedless raspberry (do you know how hard it is to find that?!), and I also love to be praised for absolutely everything I do, so I appreciate this dialogue in particular. You really have a full plate, don't you, Tara? Sounds like deciding not to move was a good call, if only for your sanity. Here's to a calm, spiritual Christmas weekend! If it makes you feel any better...yes...I am completely overwhelmed, too.
I laughed out loud over the smuckers dialogue. And I was overwhelmed just reading about your overwhelmeded-ness. Christmas does that to me sometimes. I think for me it's because I have these crazy expectations and I always let myself down. This year though I am in a sort of tailspin and not sure what I'm feeling. I think I'm just sort of waiting for Christmas to be over to tell the truth. That sounds so humbug, but I am just kind of worn out. You know what I mean?
Love it!! And I totally sympathize with the picky eater...JB will ONLY eat jam that isn't chunky, strawberry, with no seeds as wll.
Love the dialogue and all that is behind it! Wish we lived closer to each other and could hang out! Happy New Year, my friend:)
I seem to have the same goal when Christmas time comes around...AVOID BURNOUT...this year I opted out on the Christmas Card thing (which is SO unlike me). I have never felt so free in my life!!! I don't think I'll ever do it again for how nice it was:)
Now I understand why you do it during a different part of the year...your a smartypants!
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