Sometimes Advent wears me out.
I love this season—I truly do—but given my perfectionist tendencies, I find myself trying way too hard to drain the dregs of every feast day and squeeze every symbol like a sponge.
I realized this last night when “St. Nicholas” decided that perhaps the ornaments he’d brought for the children—made with love by those cute little Kohl’s elves—were, in fact, not good enough. He thought perhaps he’d make homemade ornaments—Sugar ornaments! Yes, that’s the ticket—because homemade is better and they would know that he cared.
Right?
In the end, though, he changed his mind. That cup of coffee was long, long gone; it was after midnight; he was spent.
This was their morning, then:
And this was mine when I crashed and burned:
Actually, this is right about the time that my day got better, because I finally realized that in order to get George to stop clicking and climbing onto everything he saw, I just needed to give him some goop and let him go.
Here’s a visual:
We did the old baking soda/vinegar trick and heck if he wasn’t transfixed for an hour.
(It’s a pouring & stirring thing.)
(The kid’s got needs.)
I do too, though, and it is NOT to do it all. I am writing a note to myself for tomorrow and the note to myself says simply, “Chill.” Our Lord will be born and God will be glorified.
Handmade or store-bought, He will come.
Random closing question: Tomorrow is Weigh-in Wednesday! Would you like a report of where I’m at?
With love & blessings & some store-bought ornaments,
Oh please do share the details of what you did with George as to the baking soda and vinegar. My "George" could use some distracting.
Yes please, I would like a weigh-in report tomorrow. 🙂 I'm still waiting on my book to arrive – hopefully tomorrow.
Yes please!! I find myself wishing and hoping for great things out of myself during this season but it never does happen. Christmas happens whether I've made dozens of cookies or decorated every last space. 🙂
Weigh in update would be much appreciated, Margaret. I am sweating right along with you, but not yet brave enough for "the scale".
So how do you get your toddler to not eat the stuff? Mine would be eating it….but then again, maybe it would only take one taste to not do it again?
ooh, seeing this a little late. Add me to the yes please list. 🙂
Realizing limitations can just be hearing God's gentle whisper to slow down.
We were all engines full steam ahead this advent until we all got colds this past weekend. School has come to a complete halt. I have now completely lost my voice and am just wondering how long God has been asking me to be quiet such that he had to resort to this. 🙂
Yep, my store bought ornaments were given yesterday. It would be even better if the tree was up!
I, too, could use the 'recipe' for toddler distraction. We've got the aqua doodle on the floor right now, but that doesn't last long with a determined painter.
Oh, Margaret, I'm right there with you.
I, too, have a "George" (almost 2) that is into everything. I waited to do our St. Nick baking when he went down for his nap, but of course he woke up early before we were done. Chaos ensued. I'll have to remember the vinegar and baking soda.
I, too, have a terrible perfectionist trait. I was just lamenting this to my girlfriend last night. Needing to make every moment, every activity perfect. Like the little perfect images we have in our heads. Almost 2 year olds have a wonderful way of bursting those bubbles.
And I, too, am working on the weight still. Of course these feast days with all of their feasting keep getting in the way, lol. 😉
You're doing wonderful on your weight loss! I wish it was coming off of me as quickly. Ah, well. I'll keep trying. I'm the little engine that could.
Melanie, all I did was give Georg a bowl full of baking soda. "Watch!" I told him, then added a couple drops of food color. (I don't let my 2-year-olds anywhere near food coloring. It's a control freak thing but I'm working on it.) And then I gave him a measuring cup full of vinegar and told him to pour it in the bowl.
Instant volcano!
Oh and Kelly? Those cookies still aren't frosted. 🙂
Woops, forgot Jamie's question! About your toddler tasting the concoction…I actually encouraged George to taste his "soup". His reaction was priceless…visible shudders, a huge raspberry. "Pffffbt!" he said, and you can bet he won't be tasting that soup again.