I'll probably be micro dosing actual shrooms somewhere in these holidays. I did so much color matching and lighting for so long and kind of jokingly resisted it. I ended up with a table top blue, maybe 12" tall blue glitter dipped brush Hanukkah Bush, as I call it. (I'm not really Christian, don't want to celebrate a holiday I don't observe, the child being a child told me I was Jewish. Me being ME, I told him he was Jewish too because according to Jewish Law, Mom's Jewish-you are too. That evolved into an impressive amount of cultural and holiday related surprises between the two of us over the years.
After my broken shoulder/arm and the catastrophes that followed, I'm blessed to be completely removed from retail, people I don't want in my life, holiday triggers being thrown in my face. The thing that's actually cool about that is no one lives rent free in my head and I don't have any expectations of anyone.
National news is poisonous for me and I'm probably better off using the internet for nice things like this and kitty pictures. The lack of justice anywhere is a trigger for my CPTSD. I am SOOOOO little and I worked so hard ant filling congressional voice/mail boxes, etc. I can go into abstinence here. I just do not want to go backwards in time and be a keyboard warrior. Lots of other people with the same opinion can scream for me on whatever day. I'm tired.
A guy friend fried a turkey for Thanksgiving, Christmas is unplanned and I have friends planning to come for New Years. With weather and aging parents and pets in the mix, I expect none of it to go. If any dows, that's great-if not, I get a day of love with the pets.
This is a great reminder to do what brings us joy when it comes to creating the "holiday magic." Moms are often so driven by what we think we need to do to make it amazing for the kids, that we end up exhausted, resentful, and less present. They will remember the feeling and the quality moments, not the decorations.
And I'm glad my micro feminist ideas resonated :) Go small is the new go big?!
I realized recently that my greatest joy is when all the kids are here with their people…engaged with one another and laughing. So with the weight of the news so heavy (I am also microdosing so as to not behave like an ostrich) I am leaning into laughter as a theme for this holiday season. Some ridiculous games to play instead of stockings filled with often much of what they’d easily buy for themselves. Fun ways to wrap and deliver their gifts. Really just any way to embrace the joy of togetherness. Sending love to you in your peace and silence…both lovely gifts to yourself as well. 🤍
Silence is also a practice I am subscribing to this season, which makes me wonder why I want to leave a comment. It sounds selfish, which is not who I am or who I want to be, but I am making more time for Tom. I like your blogs and the vulnerability you display in them. Advent and Christmas blessings. You probably still understand the difference.
My daughter helped me put up my tree and lights. I’ve chosen only angels to hang with the lights. 4 other boxes of decorations remained closed this year. The lights are peaceful, something much needed right now. Love and hugs to you during this season, Mary. You’re taking good care of yourself💜
Yes! I'm grateful for last year's self who put all of my favorites in one box on top of all the other "2nd best" boxes when I packed up last year. So I only opened the one box. I added some decorations to the mantle in my dining room. Stockings (with their names) in the room my daughter and granddaughters sleep on Christmas Eve. A Christmas light studded garland around the living room. My childhood nativity set (I have about 8 more sets that are in the other unboxed boxes). two pre lit stoop trees in front of the house. We got our tree but I've only put half the lights on so far. We do an open house for the church on Dec 22 and I think I will leave the ornaments out for anyone who wants to decorate it. (I have not watched the news since election night).
Glad the quiet feels good! We left 99% of our Christmas decorations in storage in NJ & plan to use Katie’s while we all settle into Christmas week in a Williamsburg condo bc we r in an apartment until the house is built…. But the shopping, wrapping & baking will carry on… Mark & I have play & concert plans to keep us in the Christmas Spirit.
Love this idea…especially “micro dosing the news” (I’ve been practicing that, and I didn’t have a name for it! 😉) I’m reading Advent in Palestine too…I’m just getting started, but can’t wait to learn more.
Amy, right? Dramatic things will find their way to us. And I'm skipping all the articles about what might happen, as a gift to my sanity, since no one really knows.
I went through a bout of radiation at the end of August and I'm still fatigued. I couldn't even fathom the thought of putting up a large "real" tree, stringing lights, putting all the ornaments on, and then taking the whole thing down again. This year I put up a "pencil tree" I bought many years ago. I had left the lights on it once I strung them the year I bought it so all I had to do was put some of my favorite ornaments...the ones that have memories attached...of when my children were young or the ones gifted to me by friends, and the cute Oshkosh Christmas sock I had put on my now thirty-four year old grandson when he was 8 months old his first Christmas. It was easy, there's no watering involved, no needles to sweep up. Most of my other decor remained in the bins this year as well. I bought a beautiful large wreath for the smell of pine and cedar, and that's it. Now I can rest and enjoy walking through Advent.
Just sending well wishes and a knowing “yes”. I had a “bout of radiation” that ended in March and it took months to recover from. Go easy…the fatigue is so very real. 💜
I'll probably be micro dosing actual shrooms somewhere in these holidays. I did so much color matching and lighting for so long and kind of jokingly resisted it. I ended up with a table top blue, maybe 12" tall blue glitter dipped brush Hanukkah Bush, as I call it. (I'm not really Christian, don't want to celebrate a holiday I don't observe, the child being a child told me I was Jewish. Me being ME, I told him he was Jewish too because according to Jewish Law, Mom's Jewish-you are too. That evolved into an impressive amount of cultural and holiday related surprises between the two of us over the years.
After my broken shoulder/arm and the catastrophes that followed, I'm blessed to be completely removed from retail, people I don't want in my life, holiday triggers being thrown in my face. The thing that's actually cool about that is no one lives rent free in my head and I don't have any expectations of anyone.
National news is poisonous for me and I'm probably better off using the internet for nice things like this and kitty pictures. The lack of justice anywhere is a trigger for my CPTSD. I am SOOOOO little and I worked so hard ant filling congressional voice/mail boxes, etc. I can go into abstinence here. I just do not want to go backwards in time and be a keyboard warrior. Lots of other people with the same opinion can scream for me on whatever day. I'm tired.
A guy friend fried a turkey for Thanksgiving, Christmas is unplanned and I have friends planning to come for New Years. With weather and aging parents and pets in the mix, I expect none of it to go. If any dows, that's great-if not, I get a day of love with the pets.
Laura, a low expectations holiday, with pets, sounds very serene. Hope it feels peaceful to you!
Perfection
This is a great reminder to do what brings us joy when it comes to creating the "holiday magic." Moms are often so driven by what we think we need to do to make it amazing for the kids, that we end up exhausted, resentful, and less present. They will remember the feeling and the quality moments, not the decorations.
And I'm glad my micro feminist ideas resonated :) Go small is the new go big?!
Anna, yes, so wise: emphasizing the feeling over the Instagram-worthy look. And, yes, I loved how you’re getting your kids to think.
I realized recently that my greatest joy is when all the kids are here with their people…engaged with one another and laughing. So with the weight of the news so heavy (I am also microdosing so as to not behave like an ostrich) I am leaning into laughter as a theme for this holiday season. Some ridiculous games to play instead of stockings filled with often much of what they’d easily buy for themselves. Fun ways to wrap and deliver their gifts. Really just any way to embrace the joy of togetherness. Sending love to you in your peace and silence…both lovely gifts to yourself as well. 🤍
Chris, that’s delightful. Emphasizing the fun, on all levels.
Silence is also a practice I am subscribing to this season, which makes me wonder why I want to leave a comment. It sounds selfish, which is not who I am or who I want to be, but I am making more time for Tom. I like your blogs and the vulnerability you display in them. Advent and Christmas blessings. You probably still understand the difference.
Self-care and rest are necessary and wise, Tom.
Lol, yes, what a dilemma! I’m glad you broke your silence to comment, Tom. Advent blessings!
My daughter helped me put up my tree and lights. I’ve chosen only angels to hang with the lights. 4 other boxes of decorations remained closed this year. The lights are peaceful, something much needed right now. Love and hugs to you during this season, Mary. You’re taking good care of yourself💜
Joanne, that’s lovely. The simplicity of just angels this year on your tree sounds very peaceful.
And, somehow, very appropriate. The world has great need of angels right now - in song, in thought, in prayer. And sometimes, they’re us 🪽
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS!!!! Love YOU, dear Mary!!!!
Linda, love you! Thanks, friend!
Yes! I'm grateful for last year's self who put all of my favorites in one box on top of all the other "2nd best" boxes when I packed up last year. So I only opened the one box. I added some decorations to the mantle in my dining room. Stockings (with their names) in the room my daughter and granddaughters sleep on Christmas Eve. A Christmas light studded garland around the living room. My childhood nativity set (I have about 8 more sets that are in the other unboxed boxes). two pre lit stoop trees in front of the house. We got our tree but I've only put half the lights on so far. We do an open house for the church on Dec 22 and I think I will leave the ornaments out for anyone who wants to decorate it. (I have not watched the news since election night).
Melissa, how smart to sort your decorations that way. I like the simplicity of your plans.
Glad the quiet feels good! We left 99% of our Christmas decorations in storage in NJ & plan to use Katie’s while we all settle into Christmas week in a Williamsburg condo bc we r in an apartment until the house is built…. But the shopping, wrapping & baking will carry on… Mark & I have play & concert plans to keep us in the Christmas Spirit.
Nice! Christmas in a new place is an adventure.
Love this idea…especially “micro dosing the news” (I’ve been practicing that, and I didn’t have a name for it! 😉) I’m reading Advent in Palestine too…I’m just getting started, but can’t wait to learn more.
Amy, right? Dramatic things will find their way to us. And I'm skipping all the articles about what might happen, as a gift to my sanity, since no one really knows.
I’m doing precisely the same thing. It feels like a blessing I can give myself. And I can share the serenity with others. 🩵🕊️
Mary Ellen, that’s lovely thought, a gift you give yourself that spreads out and ripples around you. I’m going to hold onto that image.
Thank you for sharing these microdoses of hope and practice; they feel huge!
Thank you, Daniel.
I went through a bout of radiation at the end of August and I'm still fatigued. I couldn't even fathom the thought of putting up a large "real" tree, stringing lights, putting all the ornaments on, and then taking the whole thing down again. This year I put up a "pencil tree" I bought many years ago. I had left the lights on it once I strung them the year I bought it so all I had to do was put some of my favorite ornaments...the ones that have memories attached...of when my children were young or the ones gifted to me by friends, and the cute Oshkosh Christmas sock I had put on my now thirty-four year old grandson when he was 8 months old his first Christmas. It was easy, there's no watering involved, no needles to sweep up. Most of my other decor remained in the bins this year as well. I bought a beautiful large wreath for the smell of pine and cedar, and that's it. Now I can rest and enjoy walking through Advent.
Linda, that sounds perfect. I'm sorry the radiation is still so fatiguing. Hoping it's leading to greater good health for you. Advent blessings!
Thank you Mary! It's slow going, but that's ok...each day is a blessing. Advent blessings to you!
Just sending well wishes and a knowing “yes”. I had a “bout of radiation” that ended in March and it took months to recover from. Go easy…the fatigue is so very real. 💜
It's hard when your brain still wants to go a million miles an hour. LOL
It’s so true!
Linda, for sure!
Ah, Amy, I hope the radiation is useful in the long term, and that you can get lots of rest as you need it. Advent blessings.
I have tiny white lights strung around the frame of the painting over the mantel. That's as far as Christmas decor goes this year.
Mary Beth, that sounds perfect. And thanks for the Tiny and Snail recommendation. I'm enjoy their cards so much.