The kids who hate Santa … and the mom who insists on a photo every year
When this week’s The Mom Scene column was published, I was kind of expecting reader backlash like “What?! You force your kids to sit on Santa’s knee when they are CLEARLY UNCOMFORTABLE?! You negligent monster!”
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| D, 17 months |
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| C, 20 months |
Read the full column here!
xo
The early riser(s)
About a million years ago (or like 5-6 years ago), I used to get up really early so I could have an hour or two to work on my novel before working my “day job.”
I thought I was being mega-disciplined and it felt hard to get up that early. But in retrospect, it was easy. Darling Husband slept through anything. The dog slept through everything. There was no one to worry about waking, and no really obligations once I stopped writing and started getting ready for work.
I used to get so much done during those early-morning sessions, and I’ve been missing them over the last half-decade (yikes, that sounds too long — let’s stick with “five years”).
The internet is full of stories of how moms should get up an hour earlier than their kids so they can have time for a cup of coffee/tea, to enjoy the quiet, plan out their day, etc.
I love that idea, but when you have kids who are (A) early risers, and (B) incredibly light sleepers, it just doesn’t go down this way.
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| Photo credit |
My oldest, D (exactly four-and-a-half, as of the other day) has always been both. No matter what time he falls asleep at night, he’s up at exactly the same time — cheerful and rested — as if he’s been programmed by a clock-maker. He’s also a super-light sleeper, so if I ever *happened* to try to sneak up before him, he hears me and wakes up, too (sometimes cranky, because it’s before his internally-scheduled wake-up time).
My baby girl, C (two-and-a-half) is not an early riser. She loves to sleep in, just like her dad. However, she *is* a light sleeper. There are plenty of mornings where she would sleep in for an extra hour, but she’s woken up by D running to pee or loudly playing with trains in his bedroom. Nine times out of 10, she doesn’t wake up “naturally” and therefore wakes up like a cranky-but-cute bear cub.
This morning, though — wow, took me a long time to get to my point? — was different.
I have no idea why the kids were extra-tired this morning, but my alarm went off at 7 a.m. and the house was quiet. Darling Husband had been up and out at 5 a.m. for a shift, and the kids were still asleep.
I tiptoed around getting dressed, washing my face, and brushing my teeth — which ordinarily wakes D up immediately, no matter how quietly I’m creeping. But … nothing.
When my bare feet hit the stairs, I knew it would wake him up because the stairs creak. Still nothing.
I actually made it downstairs, made a pot of tea, did my makeup, and THEY WERE STILL ASLEEP. It was exactly as relaxing as all of those mom-bloggers promised!
I ended up having to *wake* both of the kids before my friend came by to drop off her son (we drive him to preschool a few days a week). It was crazy. Why can’t this ever happen on the weekend?!
I know today was a one-off, and tomorrow D will be up bright and early again — blinking at me in the darkness and asking if it’s morning yet. But this morning was nice while it lasted.
It’s made me even more determined to get a Chromebook in the Boxing Day sales so I can quietly do some writing (in bed!) and not risk waking up my light sleepers.
Book, I’ll publish you yet. Somehow.
xo
Surviving the pre-Christmas chaos
We’re only five days into December, and my sanity is already slipping.
I’m tired of seeing posts about how we should just “say no” to all of the Christmas chaos, in order to enjoy the month and not collapse into a weeping ball of stress and tinsel.
Because it’s not that easy.
You can’t say no to Christmas concerts. You can’t say no to buying gifts. You can’t say no to wrapping the aforementioned gifts. You can’t stop putting together treats for your neighbours when you do it every single year, because then they’ll be all “Hey, what’s up? Did we spit on your lawn or something?”
You probably *could* say no to making cookies, but who wants to say no to that?
This is the time of year when none of us really have it together, even if people think we do.Some people are saying no to writing and mailing a zillion Christmas cards (I totally wanted to say no to that), but I think of it as the only communication I have with some people over the year (family friends, relatives across the country/in other countries) so I stick with it.
We have had company for the last six nights, and do you know what I have been looking forward to — a lot — since last week? Spending tonight on the couch with my husband, watching Homeland, and eating sour cream and onion chips. Seriously. I. CAN’T. WAIT.
You would *think* my December wouldn’t be as nutty, since I did all of my gift-shopping in October and November (ow! stop looking at me all pointy-like), but it doesn’t feel that way.
(My closet looks like a bomb went off. Shopping bags and shipping boxes are everywhere, and gifts are half-buried in mountains of clean (dirty? …) clothes. My closet won’t be decent until gifts are wrapped and clothes are picked up, but I can’t seem to figure out which to do first … so I’ve done neither.)
Yes, my Christmas tree is up, the outside lights are up, and we’ve checked the Santa visit off, but now my mind is running through all of the other “special” and “magical” holiday traditions that need to come next.
Annual sugar cookie-baking and decorating (lot of work + lot of mess). Annual hand-print decoration making to see how the kids’ hand-prints have grown (lot of mess). Annual viewing of Christmas specials X, Y, and Z. Buying a toy for one of those kids-in-need trees, which I CAN’T EVEN FIND THIS YEAR. Gift tree, what gives?!
The thing is, real life doesn’t slow down — or get easier — just because Christmas obligations are piling up.
I have two weeks left to cram in four weeks’ worth of work.
Darling Husband and I are working opposite schedules, as always, and I’m starting to forget what the guy looks like.
Clients aren’t paying me.
The weather is frigid but not at all snowy, so it’s hard to feel in the spirit.
I think the trick isn’t saying no to a bunch of things in an attempt to make the Christmas rush easier. I think the trick is acknowledging that December is INSANELY BUSY for EVERYONE, and trying to find tiny pockets of time to relax a little.
Throw yourself into December — the parties, the baking, and yes, the once-a-year obligations — but don’t forget to scheduled the odd “free” evening with the potato chip of your choice. You will need it.
xo
Magnetic letters that aren’t hideous
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| These remind me of chocolate, but I have no idea why. They’re gold! |
Check out the full column to see how my magnetic letter board turned out!
xo
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Brats without bribes? Nah, more like bribes without brats
I was worried about the latest instalment of my parenting column, The Mom Scene, because I know parents can get really uppitty about bribing — rewards, incentives, whatever you want to call it.
I didn’t want people to think my kids were little brats who only behaved with the promise of a sucker. That’s just not the case. I’m one of the most strict parents I know. My kids are damn well-behaved!
Before publishing it, several friends told me they really disagreed with bribery, so I wondered if I was totaaaaally off-base.
So far, though, I’ve only heard from parents who totally get it. They’re just like me, doing what they need to do to get through the errands unscathed.
Read the full column over here at the brand-new HailfaxCitizen.ca. I’d love to have you!
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Heather's Handmade Life 