Thursday, January 5, 2012

What Do You Think Thursday With Skinny Scoop: Do You Have Post-Holiday Blues or Post-Holliday Relief?

Challenging:  That would be the word to describe my first week of 2012.   And by challenging, I mean it may have been more fun getting a root canal and being forced to listen to Kenny G. music.

Without Novocain.

Here’s the low down on the first forty-eight hours.  I must say that I am ever so grateful for penicillin.  We had to make an unexpected trip to the doctor’s because Marie kept on hearing swishing in her ears, but that should clear up in a seven to ten days.  Until then, we will be repeating ourselves at high decibels.

Then, today, after I thought I had been through enough in three days, Thomas defiantly declared that he would no longer be participating in nap time.  I knew this day was coming, so I was all set and ready to sell him on Break Time: he spends time quietly playing in his room while I get some house and blog stuff done.  I thought it sounded great.


He viewed it as solitary confinement with no hope of parole.

It was a mess.

So suffice to say, this year got off to a difficult start. 

I was prepared to feel all bluesy with a touch of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) because historically I would experience Holiday Let Down: depression due to the end of the holiday season.  I would feel depressed that the holiday is over (and back when I was teaching, I would have to go back to work).  I would be disappointed because the holiday didn’t live up to my expectations.   I would be emotionally drained from family drama.

This year, I feel oddly calm, maybe even looking forward to the dreaded Michigan months of January and February.  I’m not sure why.  Maybe I have healthier boundaries therefore better able to enjoy family events without being overwhelmed.   Perhaps it’s because The Babes are older, and the packing logistics are as easy as throwing a few diapers and wipes in my purse.  Maybe it’s because of my new outlook on life that I briefly touched on in my Review of 2011.  It could also be that, thanks to The Babes, I have a deeper understanding of enjoying the moment. 

Usually the weather plays a point in all of a bad mood.  But this year, I am not going to get sucked into the bad weather talk.  I live in Michigan.  The weather is rarely ideal.  This year, I bought a good hat and even snow pants.  I am not going to get trapped inside.

Unless I want to be snowed in.  In which I will bake.  Too much baking and eating?  Let’s play Wii.

Please don’t confuse this as everything is rosy and perfect.   It’s not (just ask Thomas who had the bigger meltdown today during our attempted nap time).  This new appreciation for the moment is a practiced frame of mind.  Emphasis on “practice.”

My bottom line is I loved Christmas this year, and despite how the horrible start to 2012, I am looking forward to it.  And in the great words of Dr. Suess, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

My question to you is




6 comments:

An Authentic Life said...

Ah, the ever post-holiday reflection. Guess I'm in the "glad it's over" camp, as our was NOT relaxing and even had some drama.
Next Christmas, I'm voting for a beach vacation!

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Elizabeth-FlourishInProgress said...

Ohmygah, what a week for you!!

I hope everything is much, much better now. I used to get SAD so bad when I lived on the east coast. Man, when it gets dark at 3 pm, I just didn't feel like doing anything or smiling for any reason.

Unknown said...

I have always got a little sad when I see all the wonderful lights come down, but after having my kids the holidays are always so crazy it's more of a relief when it's over.

I think the best way to look at is the new year may have started rough but you made it through stronger from the experience.

I remember when my son James(6) decided he wasn't going to nap anymore, it took me over a month to get him into "breaktime". It did work, FINALLY!

Good Luck in the rest of this fabulous new year!

Erin Janda Rawlings said...

Thank you for sharing that it took your son sometime to grasp the concept of break time!

Erin Janda Rawlings said...

It is ridiculous when it gets dark so early, isn't it? I feel like I should just go to bed right after dinner.