It’s almost Christmas, (as you probably know), and once again I am learning the difference between what brings me peace and what does not.
Baking with my 2-year-old does not bring peace.
I do it for Advent penance.
Donating 25 bags’ worth of household goods & clothing definitely brought me peace.
PLEASE don’t tell the fire marshal that all this stuff was in our basement.
How about eating clean and exercising daily?
You tell me. I wouldn’t know.
And then there are all those “coping” mechanisms—our habits, you know? For good or for worse. The other night I was completely spent, so I poured myself a glass of Merlot and sat down to a Lewis & Clark documentary on Netflix. My five-year-old promptly crawled into my lap and I thought, “How sweet! This is really cozy.” I may have even been guilty of intellectual pride that my kindergartener was watching “smart” TV with me, but then…
My son, never known for his tact or diplomacy, demanded, “Why are you so desperate for wine all the time?” Wow, really? What five-year-old talks like that? It doesn’t matter. His words were like a peace-destroying bomb. The wine lost its flavor; the cozy moment, gone.
Okay, so, I’m not trying to get all heavy here. Kids do talk—they talk non-stop—and we can’t get all sensitive when their words sting. I did wonder if God was sending a subtle message about how my Advent has been progressing. Out of the mouths of babes, you know? I don’t know, but I’m trying harder to prepare my heart for Our Savior’s birth.
I’m trying to seek Him more than Santa, i.e. food & drink & all that transitory peace.
I’m sneaking fewer Christmas cookies before it’s time.
To that end and despite being incredibly busy, I’m committed to reading this month’s Well Read Mom selection. Yes, Virginia, this book brings me peace! I’ve even gone all OCD and planned out the reading in do-able chunks. “Let’s see, there are 290 pages…and our meeting’s in just three short weeks…so reading 16 pages per day will get ‘er done!”
(Anal much? Why yes I am.)
And plus it’s just a wonderful book, even better than that glass of wine.
I’m just sayin’.
You know me.
I hear ya. Gosh, do I hear ya. My nearly 4 year old babe comes out with some good ones most often. Those stingers, those humbling moments when words haunt me. Plus, her new Advent tradition of being my sidekick parrot. To everything it's "of course you do" in reply. While trying to figure out where that came from for two days, it stung when I realized it's my crabby reply to her. The one when she asks for the millionth thing just after I've put everything away or after finally completing one simple task and she asks me to dive into five more. "Well, of course you do. NOW you want to do (A,B,&C)." Now I get to sit through the rest of my Advent correcting her and realizing that it's me she's repeating. Yes, sometimes these days call for a glass of wine or even more coffee. It does seem that the mouths of babes are what bring us to a greater call of sainthood in our homes during these beautiful liturgical seasons. In the midst of my decorating, shopping, eating, and baking, are sprinkled moments that remind me what this season is really about.
I am finding more ways to grasp the peaceful projects this Advent and set aside those that clearly just are not.
May the final days of Advent be a blessing to you and your family.
ps.. I just noticed the label "excessive caffeine consumption." *love* 😉
Love this Sarah. All of it.
Plus, Maggie loves it when I leave lots of comments
Oh my gosh, Sarah, I say that very thing! As in: "Well, of course you do."
Is it a Minnesotan thing? Or a slightly snarky, overwhelmed mom thing? :-/
And Jamie, you're right. I DO love your comments. ♥
Love that book…should read it again!! I think I only read bits and pieces last time, like not in order. Which is not like me. At all.
I have say, that I have no coping mechanisims, because Tom joined me on Weight Watchers…so I'm watching my points and he's trying to spend his. (He gets a ton of points!) (he's tall and big and a MAN!!)
I usually go to Adoration to cope. But it's been hard here, it's not familiar, I'm scared to go at night, and I'm not in any routine. The chapel is not open on the weekends. I have lots of excuses why I'm not going to Adoration. I need to go. You do too. I can tell. And you need an "extra" time, other than your regular hour. It will help. OR Mass, one extra Mass this week. BY YOURSELF!!
Love you Maggie.
But not tonite, Tom is taking the kids to The Hobbit…I'm staying back with the littles and am going to wrap presents…It sounded so fun when Charlotte said it. (Waltzing Mathilda).
Oops, that "But not tonite…" part was supposed to go after the Adoration part…
I knew what you meant and–much more importantly–am going to try my darnedest to take your advice. An extra Mass (or two) is exactly what I need.
Love you! Miss you! Am jealous of all those Texas sunrises!
Baking with toddlers….it's a tradition at our house. My MOM spends an entire day baking with all the kids while I shop (sort of limo style with my dad driving his pick-up). I don't missing not baking cookies with the kids ONE BIT!
I've gone through so many of my older girls' books I think I should make the jump to something more edifying 🙂 Thanks for the reminder about the Well Read Mom….I'm going to get that book and begin now!
That is a fabulous tradition, and what a blessing for you *and* your kids.
Also? Read this book! You won't regret it!!
Merry (almost) Christmas, Shelly. ♥
Hi Margaret! I read this yesterday but finally making it back today. I was wanting to see others coping strategies because I am lacking one right now.
I used to have a glass of wine at night but my hubby was told he should not have alcohol with a new drug he is on and I feel bad drinking in front of him. We were shopping and I asked him if we could find a NA wine. He told me that was grape juice. 🙂 Ack. I can't win.
I am having my sister's kids over tomorrow after school and then all of the kids will bake my cookies. Hmm, 9 kids cooking together, should I worry? Maybe I need wine.
Hope your day is beautiful!
I run and drink wine. Not together though :D. I do go to Adoration weekly. Been doing that for ten years now I think? So run, drink, and pray. Perhaps I should make sure the order is a wee bit better (pray, run, drink…LOL)
Just a thought as I was reading this post (kind of late to the party!) and feel free to throw it out if it isn't workable for you. I started taking a day every 4-6 weeks and setting it aside to be alone with God. I found a friend who lets me use her house while she is working. I read Scripture or a book that inspires me. Sing lots of songs of praise out loud (Good thing it's just me and Him because I'm lacking in vocal talent!) I spend time at the local Adoration chapel, pray the rosary while I take a walk, listen for His whispers of love. I usually try to get about 6 hours at a time but whatever might work in your situation. At the beginning of 2014, I looked at this mini retreat idea as a great way to get away from life as I know it. By July, I realized that I was running TO Him, not AWAY from my life. It can be a little hectic making time but my kids must see a difference because after a few weeks they will ask when I'm going on retreat again. (That or they just want to get rid of me for awhile!) Peace to you, Margaret. You know, He's passionately in love with you, just the way you are.