Most things take more time than you expected due to crowds and traffic and there is too much to do!
What is the best way to approach this December scheduling conundrum?
Expectations for my time
After delivering the two girls, doing a little Christmas shopping and then driving through more traffic (past a large church whose Christmas play was apparently ending) I arrived home and collapsed on my couch - in my pjs.
Did I have several tasks calling me? I did.
Did I feel guilty? For a moment.
However, I've learned that during the holidays a quiet house is rare and I sorely needed some down-time. It seemed more productive for me to take a break than wrap a gift, wash a dish or write a blog. Honestly, I couldn't even wrap my brain around preparing for the lesson I had to teach on Monday at co-op. Luckily for me, when I shopping at Lifeway Christian book store the first thing I noticed on the bargain shelf was a stack of hardback copies, for ONLY $4, of Jan Karon's Shepherds Abiding ( I wrote about this last Thursday ).I decided this would be an early Christmas present for myself. What I appreciate about the Mitford stories are the honesty of the characters and how Father Tim influences so many lives without being preachy. Mitford is the perfect escape read for a holiday break.
Click here for the sale at Christian Book Distributors.
It wasn't long before Ginger returned and wanted to talk about her dance and other life issues. My break prepared me to give her my full attention.
When it comes to you schedule this month, remember that sometimes doing "less is more". When you try to do too much you wear yourself out. Schedule a break for mom, or take them as they come so you can remain energized and at peace for my family.
Expectations for my presence with my daughter
On Saturday I had to choose again -- go out into the holiday rush or remain at home as support for my daughter as she finished a paper for school. It was more important for me to be in the house ready to answer her questions or merely encourage her along in her process. This was the day I puttered around the house doing odd little jobs, planning, writing, running only a couple of short necessary errands. If I'm distracted by holiday preparations or fretting about the preparations I am not getting to, I can't happily be there for my daughter when she needs me on the end of the semester deadlines.
Expectations for School
I read a message from a mother recently who bemoaned that she was feeling stressed by an unexpected required meeting downtown during the same month she had planned to do a lot of holiday activities along with all their regular school. May I just say, this mom is setting herself up for frustration?
I've learned that I need to curtail my expectations for school and possibly stop our regular school schedule altogether during the weeks of December. As a high school student in several classes, there are some non-negotiable assignments my daughter must finish - and finish well. I've chosen to let her focus on those and delete some assignments or subjects under my control.
It is important to plan this margin in our schedule. Think of this as reverse contingency planning for my time. Since I can't build more time into the day, I have to delete something from the calendar to make room for the unexpected as well as the expected holiday events.
This margin needs to be added into every activity -- not just the overall schedule. Traffic and crowds are going to slow down the simplest trip.
Realistic scheduling expectations and plans ensure you avoid the grumpiness and stress that always accompany a too crowded schedule.
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