This is not a quilty, sew-ie post. This is my 'need to vent' post. I hope not to offend, but I will keep it short...hopefully.
I have a hard time with Christmas. Not the holiday itself but rather the stress of it all, and how people become. Not everyone mind you, but overall we get cranky and stressed out about finding the 'right' gift for that someone special or making sure you've got EVERYTHING checked off your list. I know I get this way. For the entire freaking month of December....it's a long month.
I'm not a deeply religious person so we won't go there in this post, but I do think that the real true meaning of Christmas totally gets lost in the shuffle and holiday bustle. I've felt that way for years and it seems that each year gets worse and wears on me more. If I didn't have kids, we would probably skip the whole shabang! As we were digging out our holiday crap from the storage unit and Robot Husband kept cussing, trust me - I had to say 'Its for the kids!' more than once....and as a reminder to myself.
Today has been one of those days, everything seems to have gone wrong. Nothing is going as planned and I still have 9 million things to do. I should have learned by now, I really need to get my crap together early and get it all done ahead of schedule. Maybe next year right? Yah, I've said that for the last 10 years....it never gets better or done on time.
Why does everyone turn into raging lunatics? Especially in a car. And in the parking lot of Target.
Okay. Calm down.
Notes to self:
- Remember to be thankful for what we have. We don't all need 452 presents under the tree. That's not what it's about. Although my new sewing machine under there would be nice and greatly appreciated. ;) JK. Sort of.
- Deep breaths while going to Target - remember to try to not scream at people or use my cart as a weapon
- It's a holiday for crying out loud - it's not the Zombie Apocalypse. Act like it people. Oh wait, these are notes to 'self''... nah, I'm leaving it.
- Be giving, be kind, be grateful
Okay. The next few days, well 7 of them to be exact, I will remind myself of the above. I may need to come back and read this again, and read it some more, whilst breathing deeply. Hopefully I don't have a stroke before it's all over.
Remember those 3 quilts I need to make? Yah, two major calamities have ensued and we are hoping for a miracle.
Breathe...breathe....one...two...
♥
Hope you will make it through the Holiday and have a wonderful time enjoying the company of family and friends. And make great memories for your kids. I know what you are going through. I don't Christmas shop anymore. Unless I feel like it. No pressure!
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way! Most of the things on my Christmas list for others are things I am making them. I feel like it makes the gift giving process more personal. Good luck getting through the holidays, I'm right there with you ramming people with the basket at Target :)
ReplyDeleteOhhh hugs! I hear ya. It's funny, I am a teacher and I overheard a parent/child conversation in the school today. It went something like - mom asking child what Christmas is really about. Child answering - PRESENTS! And mom admonishing - NO, its about FAMILY and this went back and forth. Child was not convinced. But you know, I think we do - as a society - and certainly in the media, put forth presents as the end all be all. I think this child's answer speaks volumes. Hoping you can find the merry!
ReplyDeleteI'm never really in a holiday type mood. This year is even worse, my Dad just passed away. I don't have any small children, but I have a few great nieces and nephews, and I don't want to disappoint them. I don't even know if I will manage to get the six or so gifts done that I had planned. Perhaps next year will be better!
ReplyDeleteI hope your Christmas Day was everything you wished for! Filled with family and loving!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays!
Esther
esthersipatchandquilt at yahoo com
ipatchandquilt dot wordpress dot com
I hope you survived! And I know exactly how you feel as I feel the same way.
ReplyDeleteAaaah, you had a holiday rant post too!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas ever was the one when my husband and I lived in the Netherlands and I was 5 months pregnant (thus, not really in the position to make unnecessary international journeys). We didn't do gifts at all--I think this is key--but we decorated a tree and ate a special meal and ate dinner with friends and took long walks out in the cold. And we put our feet up and rested, for a week or two.
My Christmas this year was so NOT that. I always think I'm sidestepping the craziness by making gifts but I don't think that's the case anymore. You are right, I think it's time that those of us who are trying to live "different" lives (as crafters, I know we are) re-evaluate what Christmas is to us. And take back the power.
Good post. Rants are good. :)
yeah, I'm a little late to the post party, but I totally get where you are coming from. This year I scaled way back and even though I felt guilty sort of, I was more relaxed (slightly)...let's not go overboard here -- the holidays still stress me out. My kids were thrilled with there gifts even though they didn't get a ton and none of them were super expensive, but they were what they wanted. I hope you have recovered and hope that next year you feel less pressured.
ReplyDelete