Merry Christmas friends! It's a beautiful SUNNY day here in West Hartford, and we are celebrating the most magical time of the year! It's CHRISTMAS! Santa came and went, and although my living room looks like a small tornado hit, I am ignoring the chaos and enjoying the moment.
The girls are playing in the back with their new gifts and I am sitting here with a cup of coffee and looking at our Christmas cards. I am always surprised, year after year, how fast the morning goes by. We spend days/weeks preparing and then poof, wrapping paper off, lots of noise, smiles, laughing, chaos, and then quiet, as they play and explore their new gifts.
Don't get me wrong, as a mom, I love the quiet. We can never have enough quiet! But .... there is something pretty special about noise. And chaos. It's being in the moment, that I love, and honestly forget sometimes. I'm thinking about what is next, what I have to do, prepare, move, organize, bake, cook, prepare. How can we not? It's who we are.
So I was pleasantly surprised when the girls were reading their letter from Santa this morning (a rather lengthy one about being kind to each other and to try and get along- he must be a parent too. But I digress... ) In his letter he mentioned leaving behind a letter for me, as well, in my stocking. It was short and sweet, but just what I needed to hear. I thought I would share with you as I think SO MANY of us moms out there can relate (and dads too!)...
Dear Adria,
Merry Christmas! Today is Christmas Day and I know you are probably stressed out already trying to figure out how you are going to get everything done.
I am old, and have been around for a very long time, so please allow me to share some advice with you so you can enjoy Christmas today, every single part of it...
1) The girls will argue. That is a fact. 100% true, no matter how many times you tell them you love them and to please get along. They will try, but it is hard sometimes to always get along. (Remember when you were young and you and your sisters argued?) - side note, the girls LOVED reading this part.
So the best advice I can give you is to let them argue a little. They will learn how to make up, too. If they are just talking to each other , that is okay. If they yell, then you can get involved.
2.) Try hard not to be stressed out. Everything will work out. You don't always need to say yes to everything. You can say no every once in awhile.
3.) You will not have an organized and clean house today. Who cares? No one is coming over, remember. (You can straighten up tomorrow.)
4.) Don't worry if everyone does not get along. Just worry about you and your family, and what you say to others and how you treat them. Even if someone is not nice to you. Your daughters will learn how to be kind from you.
5.) Remember the REASON FOR THE SEASON... It's Jesus' birthday, so celebrate and enjoy the day!
Merry Christmas Adria. You are a good mom, and you need to remember that. Don't be so hard on yourself. Give yourself a break every once in awhile. Please tell David how proud I am of him for being a good and loving Daddy, too.
Love,
SANTA CLAUS
So, with those words, I am pouring myself another cup of coffee and leaving the cleanup for later. I am going to enjoy this morning. I wish you all a wonderful Christmas. I wish you all lots of chaos and noise. I wish you all less stress in the New Year, and more "nos". But most of all I wish you love, laughter and many more "living in the moments".
From my family to yours... have a wonderful and Merry Christmas, and peaceful New Year.
