I feel like I just made it to the finish line!
I’m in my comfy chair next to our glittering Christmas tree, cup of coffee in hand, nibbling on a few spiced nuts. My feet are up on the ottoman, and beside me on the table lies my well worn copy of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
It feels good.
Despite having one sick child at home, who for the record, I don’t think is really sick but has heightened anxiety around special events like the last day of school, and the randomness of the class party and watching Frozen in the dark, crowded gym (all taking place today)- that he makes himself sick so he can stay home and hang out with me and the iPad and tv).
Yes, despite having one child underfoot, my mission is accomplished.
Holiday ‘To Do’ List
– Gingerbread cookies made? Check.
– Spiced nuts for the boys’ teachers, Ollie’s behavioural consultant, the neighbour, and my massage therapist bagged, and cards hand made by the kids to accompany them finished (save for my massage therapist)? Check.
– Starbucks cards to accompany the spiced nuts for some of the above? Check.
– Gifts bought? Check.
– Christmas cards to my nearest and dearest mailed? Check.
– Charlie Brown tree from the Nana & Papas’ Christmas tree farm decorated? (our first one! -they are finally big enough!) Check.
– All outstanding work commitments completed for the next week or so? Check.
– Son number two ready to play his Christmas songs at the piano recital? Check.
– 2015 calendar ready to go? Check.
– 3 nights away with hubbie to Whistler booked for February? (our first time away together for more than 1 night in 7 years!) Check.
– Me still functioning, not sick or run down with a nagging cough or flu? Check.
Yahoo! I did it!
Don’t you have a list just like this ladies? I am sure that as you read this, you will be nodding your heads too, because you relate.
Christmas- The 3rd Work Shift
I was listening to CBC radio the other day and they said that for women, the holiday season is the 3rd work shift, there is;
#1- the household responsibilities, #2- work responsibilities, and then #3- holiday responsibilities, and these generally fall to the women in the household.
So I am not telling you anything new when I say that…
...the Christmas season can mean work for us women.
In fact I recall saying to my mother last Christmas (when I wasn’t working AT ALL and therefore had way more time that I do now) that I was not really enjoying the holidays anymore as it was just too much work, and I am one of those people who loves Christmas!
But it really wasn’t that enjoyable for me, and I recall feeling resentful and exhausted and looked forward to it being all over. And as some of you know, for the past two years, I needed multiple rounds of antibiotics just to make it through the winter. (Hello Houston, um…clearly we have a problem here)
This is the first year in many where I have felt this peaceful about this ‘3rd work shift’.
It might be because I am working for myself now which means I have more flexible hours (although some weeks I am still working the same number of hours) and there is the bald fact that I was most sick last winter, when I wasn’t working at all.
Or maybe it is because my boys are getting older so are a bit easier, but I think it mostly has to do with my experiences in the coaching realm. As my clients have all heard me say at one point or another, coaching is about eliminating what isn’t working, it is NOT about adding more things to do.
I am getting better at this eliminating, and I am much better at getting enough downtime which allows me to tune into my body compass to see what I am truly feeling, and this in turn enables me to take better care of myself all of which has helped ENORMOUSLY.
It’s December 19th peeps and I am still standing (knock on wood!).
I mentioned this to another Mom in the school yard today and she said; “Don’t say that- we still have 6 days to go”.
We women know how tough it is to stay healthy when we are working the 3rd shift.
Just a few days ago I WAS feeling like the walking dead, and I knew there were still spiced nuts to be made and gingerbread to be rolled out, but I also knew it could wait. Instead I flopped on the couch, watched some episodes of Modern Family I had missed, and by 9PM was in bed with a hot water bottle on my head (I thought I had a head cold coming on and that always seems to help). The next morning I was ready to rumble precisely because I had given myself a big time out.
The ‘old me’ would have staggered on like a martyr, snapping at those around me while rolling out the gingerbread and resenting all the extra work.
In fact if the ‘old me’ had been asked on short notice to make 30 sandwiches for the school Christmas party (when I was sure I signed up for the less time intensive 12 juice boxes) I would have lost it, but this year when that occurred (as it did yesterday) I was totally fine with it and this morning actually felt merry making those little triangle shaped goodies for the kids.
Can you say Christmas MIRACLE?!
So if you are having a holiday moment like I was a few days ago, where you are feeling exhausted and harassed and the holidays simply feel like too much work, step back from it all. Take a break, watch some mindless tv, go for a swim or a walk, get a massage, or SLEEP! Then when you are feeling re- energized look at your holiday list and see what you can eliminate and be sure you make time for the activities that will put you in touch with that Christmas joy.
And now with a few days left until the big day you will likely find me where I am now, typing this out, in my comfy chair in front of the lights of the Christmas tree with A Christmas Carol in hand – ahhhhh PEACE.
and I leave you with this beautiful quote to ponder…
If, as Herod, we fill our lives with things, and again with things; if we consider ourselves so unimportant that we must fill every moment of our lives with action, when will we have the time to make the long, slow journey across the desert as did the Magi? Or sit and watch the stars as did the shepherds? Or brood over the coming of the child as did Mary? For each one of us, there is a desert to travel. A star to discover. And a being within ourselves to bring to life.
-Author Unknown
Merry Christmas!
Happy Hanukkah!
Happy Kwanzaa!
Hope I have covered all my bases! 🙂
Thanks for allowing me space in your in – box and Seasons Greeting to you and your family!
xo
Elizabeth