These are a few of my favorite things!
Pardon my "Julie Andrews Moment", but I was just thinking about why I don't feel like it's Christmastime, yet.
Yup, I do not feel like the Season of Christ's Birth is upon us. It doesn't matter that my tree is trimmed, my nativity set is up, my stockings are hung, my gifts are bought, AND there is a couple of inches of snow on the ground. I'm doing all the things I've done to prepare every year since I was a child, but I still don't feel "Christmas-y".
So, after complaining to my dear husband about this odd feeling (and receiving only odd looks in response), I began to review EVERYTHING.
Am I depressed? Nope. There are no terrible worries tugging at my heart, or true sadness to be kept at bay.
Am I observing all the little traditions that have added to the holiday merriment over the years? Let's see: we light the Advent Wreath each Sunday night, we read from the Advent Book, we have made our special donations (monetary, materially, and spiritually) already, the baking has begun. So, yes, I'm "doing" all of it.
Also, I have been playing Christmas carols non-stop since November 1st (just ask my kids!), so it can't be that, either.
So, what the heck is wrong with me?
And, then it dawned on me: I have been battling a nasty head/chest cold for nearly 3 weeks now. Hence, I cannot smell anything! Not the lovely pine odor from our tree, not the heavenly aroma of the cookies baking, not even the comforting cinnamon candles!
There I was sitting on our couch trying to catch a whiff of our newly-chopped-down Christmas tree, and I couldn't smell anything! As odd as it sounds, it's a smell that I love to inhale every morning when I walk into our living room. It's the beginning of knowing that it's Christmas time, family time, a "love-ly" time.
When I discovered that I couldn't smell the tree, I began walking around the house, sniffing like a Bloodhound hot on the trail of a criminal.
Candles? The label says "Cinnamon-Apple", but I'm smelling dust.
The peppermint patties for a special cookie recipe? Not a hint of minty aroma.
Aaahhhh-haaaaaa!!!!
Now, does this make me feel any better? Well, I don't feel like I'm losing my mind anymore, so that's a good thing.
But, I still can't "smell Christmas"!
Isn't it funny how you begin to realize that you experience life, memories, and nostalgia through more than just one or two of your 5 senses?
Irrational as it may seem, I know that whenever I hear a John Mayer song playing I immediately experience a powerful wave of nausea. Why? Because, when I was in my 1st trimester with my 4th child, Mayer's career was taking off and every radio station played his songs all day long. So, my brain associates the horrible morning sickness I was feeling with John Mayer (sorry John!).
So, while I was decorating and commemorating Christmas the way I always have done, one of my senses was being "left out", so my brain (maybe my psyche?) was not catching the full effect. Not only do my eyes, ears, and tongue tell me it's the holiday season.... so, does my nose!
So, I have 2 questions for you:
1) What are some of your favorite things at the holidays (any winter holiday will do!)?
2) Have you ever had a similar experience, where your *6th* sense told you that something
"off" with one of your other senses?
I can't wait to hear!
Oh, and have a very blessed and joyful holiday season!!
Why, yes, I AM crazy. Thank you for asking!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
"Don't Sweat The Small Stuff!"
Recently, I was asked what I would entitle a reality show based on my family's day-to-day life and, immediately, this phrase came to mind: "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff!"
But, I'll come back to that later.
What prompted that question was another, even more interesting question: What do I think of reality shows about large families?
Hey, like a lot of moms out there, I am addicted to most of TLC's programming: Jon and Kate Plus 8, 17 Kids and Counting, etc. It's difficult not to get hooked!
To begin with, I believe these shows came about for the same reason Barnum & Bailey trotted out the Bearded Lady at every stop: Morbid Curiosity.
After all, in the last 20 years, larger (more than 4 children) families have become increasingly rare. People are curious as to the "how's" and "why's" of the large-family-dynamic. I, myself, like to see how other larger-than-average families handle daily life.
Shows like "Jon and Kate...", while fascinating, bother me, though. While I applaud Jon and Kate for accepting two groups of multiples (twins and sextuplets) into their lives, I disagree with many of they ways they choose to handle their marriage and their family.
For example, as much as Jon and Kate say that other couples speak to each other the way they do (i.e. RUDELY), it's unhealthy; it is disrespectful to your spouse and it sets a very bad example for your children. If you watch the show, then you know that they have at least one child who speaks to them like she owns them. They excuse/explain this behavior by attributing it to her personality. Really? Well, who has a major impact on the formation of personality? I'll tell you who: parents.
Also, while they qualify as a large family due to the sheer number of people, Jon and Kate readily admit that it was never their intention to have as many kids as they do. In fact, I have seen several episodes in which they are practically apologizing to their twins because they have six other siblings; (I'm paraphrasing here) "The older girls get frustrated by the little kids. It's not fair that they have to deal with them running around all the time".
Both parents seem constantly bothered and conflicted about how to parent their brood. Their attitude reflects the feeling that because there are "so many" kids, that each child is some how deprived of the material things that "normal" kids have.
They are trying to parent many kids as if they have only one or two kids. I'm going to go out on a limb and state that this approach won't work.
And, I haven't even touched on Kate's severe control issues (good luck with hormonal teens!) or Jon's tendency to sulk and mutter insults.
It probably sounds like I don't like Jon and Kate as people, let alone as a TV show. But, I DO think that if they were my neighbors, I'd have a good time chatting and visiting with them. I like watching their TV show and seeing the cute things the kids do and say. And, I realize that these episodes are brief, edited snapshots of their lives, not the complete picture. So, maybe I'm not being fair.
So, to keep things even, back to my still-in-the-works reality show...
What would viewers see every week?
More than a few messes, lots of laundry, sometimes Mom yelling, barking dog, kids fighting, kids playing, kids play-fighting, singing, eating, driving, sometimes Dad giving stern looks, laughing, and lots of love.
A house with two adults, five kids, and one dog can be hectic and crazy. In fact, it almost always is a little nuts around here!
But, it can also be very peaceful, soothing, and cheerful. And, that happens at least once a day, some days even more than once!
Why?
Because, over the years, and with the addition of each child, my husband and I have learned not to sweat the small stuff.
And, for us, it really was a learned behavior.
I had to learn to accept the fact that kids aren't mini-adults and almost always behave like children. I had to learn that I wouldn't be able to attend every social function to which I was invited. My husband had to learn that it's OK to leave a basket of laundry un-folded for more than 3 minutes. He had to learn that, in order to facilitate his children's friendships, he had to extend himself socially every once in a while.
In the grand scheme of things, these are just small things. They don't really amount to much when compared to the larger things in life, such as teaching children to be polite and loving to each other, making it to church every week, eating dinner together every night, grieving together openly when one member has passed on, and rejoicing together in one member's good fortune.
Hey, unlike Kate, I don't really care if my daughter gets her dress dirty as long as she was kind to her brother while she played with him. And, when my husband comes home from work and has to navigate his way through toys and books on the floor, he only sees the happy faces who are excitedly greeting him.
Now that I think of it, I don't really want all those cameras blocking my view of my flawed, but very loving family. So, all you TLC producers can just knock on another family's door!
But, I'll come back to that later.
What prompted that question was another, even more interesting question: What do I think of reality shows about large families?
Hey, like a lot of moms out there, I am addicted to most of TLC's programming: Jon and Kate Plus 8, 17 Kids and Counting, etc. It's difficult not to get hooked!
To begin with, I believe these shows came about for the same reason Barnum & Bailey trotted out the Bearded Lady at every stop: Morbid Curiosity.
After all, in the last 20 years, larger (more than 4 children) families have become increasingly rare. People are curious as to the "how's" and "why's" of the large-family-dynamic. I, myself, like to see how other larger-than-average families handle daily life.
Shows like "Jon and Kate...", while fascinating, bother me, though. While I applaud Jon and Kate for accepting two groups of multiples (twins and sextuplets) into their lives, I disagree with many of they ways they choose to handle their marriage and their family.
For example, as much as Jon and Kate say that other couples speak to each other the way they do (i.e. RUDELY), it's unhealthy; it is disrespectful to your spouse and it sets a very bad example for your children. If you watch the show, then you know that they have at least one child who speaks to them like she owns them. They excuse/explain this behavior by attributing it to her personality. Really? Well, who has a major impact on the formation of personality? I'll tell you who: parents.
Also, while they qualify as a large family due to the sheer number of people, Jon and Kate readily admit that it was never their intention to have as many kids as they do. In fact, I have seen several episodes in which they are practically apologizing to their twins because they have six other siblings; (I'm paraphrasing here) "The older girls get frustrated by the little kids. It's not fair that they have to deal with them running around all the time".
Both parents seem constantly bothered and conflicted about how to parent their brood. Their attitude reflects the feeling that because there are "so many" kids, that each child is some how deprived of the material things that "normal" kids have.
They are trying to parent many kids as if they have only one or two kids. I'm going to go out on a limb and state that this approach won't work.
And, I haven't even touched on Kate's severe control issues (good luck with hormonal teens!) or Jon's tendency to sulk and mutter insults.
It probably sounds like I don't like Jon and Kate as people, let alone as a TV show. But, I DO think that if they were my neighbors, I'd have a good time chatting and visiting with them. I like watching their TV show and seeing the cute things the kids do and say. And, I realize that these episodes are brief, edited snapshots of their lives, not the complete picture. So, maybe I'm not being fair.
So, to keep things even, back to my still-in-the-works reality show...
What would viewers see every week?
More than a few messes, lots of laundry, sometimes Mom yelling, barking dog, kids fighting, kids playing, kids play-fighting, singing, eating, driving, sometimes Dad giving stern looks, laughing, and lots of love.
A house with two adults, five kids, and one dog can be hectic and crazy. In fact, it almost always is a little nuts around here!
But, it can also be very peaceful, soothing, and cheerful. And, that happens at least once a day, some days even more than once!
Why?
Because, over the years, and with the addition of each child, my husband and I have learned not to sweat the small stuff.
And, for us, it really was a learned behavior.
I had to learn to accept the fact that kids aren't mini-adults and almost always behave like children. I had to learn that I wouldn't be able to attend every social function to which I was invited. My husband had to learn that it's OK to leave a basket of laundry un-folded for more than 3 minutes. He had to learn that, in order to facilitate his children's friendships, he had to extend himself socially every once in a while.
In the grand scheme of things, these are just small things. They don't really amount to much when compared to the larger things in life, such as teaching children to be polite and loving to each other, making it to church every week, eating dinner together every night, grieving together openly when one member has passed on, and rejoicing together in one member's good fortune.
Hey, unlike Kate, I don't really care if my daughter gets her dress dirty as long as she was kind to her brother while she played with him. And, when my husband comes home from work and has to navigate his way through toys and books on the floor, he only sees the happy faces who are excitedly greeting him.
Now that I think of it, I don't really want all those cameras blocking my view of my flawed, but very loving family. So, all you TLC producers can just knock on another family's door!