Another post in the spirit of Christmas. I have most of the gift shopping done, but there are a few more things to pick up. I also had to buy some small items for starting my daycare, so off I went to Walmart, armed with a list of specific, yet relatively easy things (or so I thought). On the list: caps for wall sockets, an anchor for a book shelf, puppy mittens, a Santa hat (for J's Christmas concert) and possibly a TV mount.
Here's how I did.
I walked around in seventy circles before I found the socket caps. Thirty minutes. I asked four (yes, FOUR) employees for help with the book shelf anchor, and not one knew what it was. I finally pulled something off the shelf that looked somewhat relevant to my needs, and all four employees said, yes, that was it. It's not. It's an artificial stud for drywall. Well, in my defense, at least it goes into a wall. The TV mounts were all over $100, which may be inflated because it's Christmas. But really, who puts that on their wish list? The puppy mittens were also a no-go, but there was an overabundance of Hello Kitty wear, obviously. As for the Santa hat, I saved that for last, thinking that it would at least be there and that would cheer me up. But lo and behold, I get to the proper department and the only hats left are in pink. J's a boy.
So I got angry. It's supposed to be a holly jolly time of year (according to my husband, at least), and I was not holly-jolly. I went to the table asking for donations. At least I could do something productive while I was there. I picked a card and bought a present for a boy without a family for Christmas. There was all his basic information and some suggestions of what he might like. One was hockey stuff. So I went to the hockey stuff and immediately found a very nice fleece blanket with all the Canadian NHL teams on it. That was something. It made me feel a bit better, although no less grouchy.
Then I went to another store for a Santa hat and guess what? The only ones they had were for dogs! So I gave up.
Wednesday 18 December 2013
Monday 9 December 2013
Cheerleaders
This isn't a very thematic post for the time of year, but I think it makes sense. I mean that we as parents need to be cheerleaders for our children. I think it's a good time of year for it though because in December we all are so busy, getting ready for the holidays, visiting, shopping, and whatever else your Christmas (or Hannukah) requires. This is the perfect time to slow down and appreciate what we have at home, mainly, our children.
I know that no one else can push a mother's buttons like their kids. Somehow our children know how to drive us crazy in a matter of seconds. They can be the source of horrible thoughts, bad words and grey hair (ask my own mom about that one). But they are also the best things we have ever had and will ever have. Instead of thinking of what else they did wrong today, think of something they did right. Even if it was for someone else. For example, when I drop J off somewhere I always remind him about twenty times to listen. There's something about me that makes his ears run away, I guess, because he acts deaf when he's at home. But I always receive glowing reports of how good he is and how well he listens when he's with another grown up. Go figure.
But I appreciate that. I even thank him for it. I don't say, "Thank you for listening to some other mom and not me," but I do say thank you. It makes me happy that even when he's got his selective hearing ears on, he still ingests this lesson that I'm trying to send.
There are so many other things that make me happy about my kids. In short, J's love of life, his need to make others happy and his sincere, inclusive nature. E is just as wonderful, with his funny games, his agreeable (yet opinionated) nature, and his love of learning. There's so much more, but this post isn't about bragging about my own children. It's about your children.
Think on what they do that makes you and the rest of the world smile. Then give them a hug and tell them that you love that specific thing about them. If you are really ambitious, make a list or a scrapbook page. Or write a song. It doesn't matter if only you see it, but it would be really cool to show your kids too. The point is, they need to know you appreciate them. They already know you love them, so tell them exactly why. Be their biggest cheerleader and everyone will feel a little happier. And they will probably become more confident too.
There's another good thing about this too. If you consciously appreciate your children every single day, it will make it a little easier when they do drive you nuts. Yes, you feel like screaming obscenities at the moment but hey, this kid can make awesome cookies! Become a cheerleader. Tight tops and short skirts optional (I definitely opt out).
I know that no one else can push a mother's buttons like their kids. Somehow our children know how to drive us crazy in a matter of seconds. They can be the source of horrible thoughts, bad words and grey hair (ask my own mom about that one). But they are also the best things we have ever had and will ever have. Instead of thinking of what else they did wrong today, think of something they did right. Even if it was for someone else. For example, when I drop J off somewhere I always remind him about twenty times to listen. There's something about me that makes his ears run away, I guess, because he acts deaf when he's at home. But I always receive glowing reports of how good he is and how well he listens when he's with another grown up. Go figure.
But I appreciate that. I even thank him for it. I don't say, "Thank you for listening to some other mom and not me," but I do say thank you. It makes me happy that even when he's got his selective hearing ears on, he still ingests this lesson that I'm trying to send.
There are so many other things that make me happy about my kids. In short, J's love of life, his need to make others happy and his sincere, inclusive nature. E is just as wonderful, with his funny games, his agreeable (yet opinionated) nature, and his love of learning. There's so much more, but this post isn't about bragging about my own children. It's about your children.
Think on what they do that makes you and the rest of the world smile. Then give them a hug and tell them that you love that specific thing about them. If you are really ambitious, make a list or a scrapbook page. Or write a song. It doesn't matter if only you see it, but it would be really cool to show your kids too. The point is, they need to know you appreciate them. They already know you love them, so tell them exactly why. Be their biggest cheerleader and everyone will feel a little happier. And they will probably become more confident too.
There's another good thing about this too. If you consciously appreciate your children every single day, it will make it a little easier when they do drive you nuts. Yes, you feel like screaming obscenities at the moment but hey, this kid can make awesome cookies! Become a cheerleader. Tight tops and short skirts optional (I definitely opt out).
Monday 2 December 2013
Here it comes....
I can't believe it's already December! This past month has gone by so fast I don't even remember it. Since it's almost the season, I thought I would dedicate this post to getting ready for Christmas, for those who like to get a start on it early in December, like me.
Shopping:
I will start with the absolute worst part of Christmas first. I know not everyone agrees with me, but I hate shopping. The only part I like about shopping is being done. And by that I mean being home with everything unpacked and put away. Shopping is worse at Christmas, obviously, so here are some tips to keep your sanity.
1. Coffee. Drink it. If you don't drink it, then start. Begin early in the day and keep going until after noon, and then guzzle water after that. Trust me. It helps with alertness, energy and patience. A lot with patience.
2. Pick a day. Try to find care for your children and get all your shopping done in that day. 12 hours in one day is painful, I know, but it's far better than spreading it out over many days. If you do that, it suddenly turns into 40 hours.
3. Make a budget. Do a rough estimate of how many people you have to buy for and what you'll spend on each. Mine includes presents for family, tins and baking ingredients for friends and neighbours, decorations and a tree, etc. Don't forget to budget for wrapping paper, gift bags, labels and tape.
3. Make a list. Correction. Lists. First make a list of all the lists you need to make, such as People To Buy For, Budget For Each Person, Cards To Send, Addresses To Send To, etc. Then get down to each individual list. When you are finished, make another list by order of priority. Then double and triple check it. I always carry a pen with me when I'm shopping so I can check off what's done, or keep a tally of what I've spent so far. It sounds like a lot of work, but it means you won't miss anything and you can't really overspend without knowing it.
4. Try to go shopping at a time when people won't be out in crazy herds. Like in August.
5. Put on a brave face. This is cliche for a reason. It' works. If you keep your chin up and remember people are usually rude at this time of year, you will be better off for it. Just keep going for as long as you can, and if you need to stop, then stop. Hopefully you aren't doing this all on Christmas Eve, because I don't know what advice to give you if you are.
Decorating:
This is the fun part of Christmas, assuming you can get to your decorations, which for me is debatable. After climbing over 12 months worth of storage I managed to find most of our stuff, but it's worth it. If you have kids (and who would read a mom blog if they didn't?), give them each a bag and tell them to go wild. Okay, that was a joke. That wouldn't work in our house. I told J to be careful and we ended up with all our drawers and closets garlanded shut. It did look pretty though.
Brainstorm with your kids as you take stuff out of the bags. What goes on the tree, what can go on the walls, what needs to be displayed and what can go in the kids bedrooms? Then go to it. A helpful hint: don't give anyone the Scotch tape. I keep it attached to my belt loop with a Carboner, just in case. Hey, the price of tape goes way up in December.
Baking:
This is another fun part of Christmas. At least I think so. For those who aren't the baker types, you can skip this part. First, I make a list of all the people I am going to send something to and then I make a list of easy but delicious and aesthetically appealing recipes to try. I keep it to three or four, maximum. When the kids are in bed, I have a baking marathon. I usually save this until the week before Christmas so I can give them out right away.
Two notes: Those braver than I can enlist the help of their children with the baking. And if you want to give out homemade gifts but are the type to burn water, look up some easy gifts in a jar. You can make homemade hot chocolate or a basic, dry cookie recipe and give those out, with little notes telling what to add to finish the recipe. That way you will appear crafty and domestic, while not actually putting anything in the oven.
Charity:
I saved the most important for last. No matter how much our kids love presents, I am a firm believer that Christmas is more about being nice to one another, donating what we can afford and giving our time when we can manage it. It's essential to show our children how to care about other people, including strangers, and make them aware that not everyone is so lucky. It's also a great way to teach them about not judging people for what social position they're in, and give our kids a sense of purpose and pride ebcause they made someone's day better.
There are several ways to help out at this, and any other, time of year. Make a list of good ones and let each family member pick a cause to help out. Or choose one as a family. If you don't have much money, figure out where you can give your time. There are also several places that accept donations of used toys and clothing. Local community centres usually have a used toy and clothing drive at this time of year, and most malls have the Toy Drive for new toy donations. There are also several churches that take money and food donations to help with their Christmas dinners. You can also sponsor a whole family for Christmas, or if you are feeling more exotic, choose an international charity. Volunteer with your kids anywhere, at a soup kitchen sorting food and clothes or an animal shelter. Hey, our furry friends need holiday cheer too. Or you can give your child a handful of coins for that Salvation Army guy with the bell that seems to be everywhere.
While we are in the mood to give, don't forget about poor Santa at the mall. Yes, he loves his job but it must be a pretty long December, witting around for days on end. He might appreciate a coffee or gift card that he can use when he's on his way back to the North Pole....
Shopping:
I will start with the absolute worst part of Christmas first. I know not everyone agrees with me, but I hate shopping. The only part I like about shopping is being done. And by that I mean being home with everything unpacked and put away. Shopping is worse at Christmas, obviously, so here are some tips to keep your sanity.
1. Coffee. Drink it. If you don't drink it, then start. Begin early in the day and keep going until after noon, and then guzzle water after that. Trust me. It helps with alertness, energy and patience. A lot with patience.
2. Pick a day. Try to find care for your children and get all your shopping done in that day. 12 hours in one day is painful, I know, but it's far better than spreading it out over many days. If you do that, it suddenly turns into 40 hours.
3. Make a budget. Do a rough estimate of how many people you have to buy for and what you'll spend on each. Mine includes presents for family, tins and baking ingredients for friends and neighbours, decorations and a tree, etc. Don't forget to budget for wrapping paper, gift bags, labels and tape.
3. Make a list. Correction. Lists. First make a list of all the lists you need to make, such as People To Buy For, Budget For Each Person, Cards To Send, Addresses To Send To, etc. Then get down to each individual list. When you are finished, make another list by order of priority. Then double and triple check it. I always carry a pen with me when I'm shopping so I can check off what's done, or keep a tally of what I've spent so far. It sounds like a lot of work, but it means you won't miss anything and you can't really overspend without knowing it.
4. Try to go shopping at a time when people won't be out in crazy herds. Like in August.
5. Put on a brave face. This is cliche for a reason. It' works. If you keep your chin up and remember people are usually rude at this time of year, you will be better off for it. Just keep going for as long as you can, and if you need to stop, then stop. Hopefully you aren't doing this all on Christmas Eve, because I don't know what advice to give you if you are.
Decorating:
This is the fun part of Christmas, assuming you can get to your decorations, which for me is debatable. After climbing over 12 months worth of storage I managed to find most of our stuff, but it's worth it. If you have kids (and who would read a mom blog if they didn't?), give them each a bag and tell them to go wild. Okay, that was a joke. That wouldn't work in our house. I told J to be careful and we ended up with all our drawers and closets garlanded shut. It did look pretty though.
Brainstorm with your kids as you take stuff out of the bags. What goes on the tree, what can go on the walls, what needs to be displayed and what can go in the kids bedrooms? Then go to it. A helpful hint: don't give anyone the Scotch tape. I keep it attached to my belt loop with a Carboner, just in case. Hey, the price of tape goes way up in December.
Baking:
This is another fun part of Christmas. At least I think so. For those who aren't the baker types, you can skip this part. First, I make a list of all the people I am going to send something to and then I make a list of easy but delicious and aesthetically appealing recipes to try. I keep it to three or four, maximum. When the kids are in bed, I have a baking marathon. I usually save this until the week before Christmas so I can give them out right away.
Two notes: Those braver than I can enlist the help of their children with the baking. And if you want to give out homemade gifts but are the type to burn water, look up some easy gifts in a jar. You can make homemade hot chocolate or a basic, dry cookie recipe and give those out, with little notes telling what to add to finish the recipe. That way you will appear crafty and domestic, while not actually putting anything in the oven.
Charity:
I saved the most important for last. No matter how much our kids love presents, I am a firm believer that Christmas is more about being nice to one another, donating what we can afford and giving our time when we can manage it. It's essential to show our children how to care about other people, including strangers, and make them aware that not everyone is so lucky. It's also a great way to teach them about not judging people for what social position they're in, and give our kids a sense of purpose and pride ebcause they made someone's day better.
There are several ways to help out at this, and any other, time of year. Make a list of good ones and let each family member pick a cause to help out. Or choose one as a family. If you don't have much money, figure out where you can give your time. There are also several places that accept donations of used toys and clothing. Local community centres usually have a used toy and clothing drive at this time of year, and most malls have the Toy Drive for new toy donations. There are also several churches that take money and food donations to help with their Christmas dinners. You can also sponsor a whole family for Christmas, or if you are feeling more exotic, choose an international charity. Volunteer with your kids anywhere, at a soup kitchen sorting food and clothes or an animal shelter. Hey, our furry friends need holiday cheer too. Or you can give your child a handful of coins for that Salvation Army guy with the bell that seems to be everywhere.
While we are in the mood to give, don't forget about poor Santa at the mall. Yes, he loves his job but it must be a pretty long December, witting around for days on end. He might appreciate a coffee or gift card that he can use when he's on his way back to the North Pole....
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