A really good friend of mine just asked for our family to be involved in a lovely holiday party at a local nursing home for the elderly. Her grandmother is there and she'd love to bring some cheer to the other residents with decorations, crafts, children, treats and probably gifts. I adore her for putting her effort where her heart is because it's all too often folks have these thoughtful ideas and no time or resources to execute them.
Are you humored about how I've titled this post "I've just said"no" to something" just before telling you what a beautiful party this will be?
We will return from Disney World on 12/20. The party is on 12/22. I had taken that week off from work to bake, do holiday crafts with the kids and generally get ready for Christmas without having to juggling my mountain of vacation laundry AND my job.
I know my children. They are not those warm fuzzy kids that come with an easy smile. They won't go along with the other children, merrily singing Christmas carols. They won't accept a cookie a friendly elderly lady offers them. They won't entertain the conversation. The event will be stressful for us and frustrating for those we're trying to spread cheer too. It's so well intended and will be lovely - it's just got a good match for us.
Normally in this situation I would beat around the bush, half-way commit, dread, feel overwhelmed, somehow try to make it work and leave thinking "why didn't you just say no to begin with!?" Today, without hesitation, though, I said no. I was tactful and gracious. I meant every word of praise I offered about putting this party together. I sincerely hope it turns out beautifully and is a really fulfilling experience for everyone involved. But still...we will not be there and I don't feel guilty about that. I did, however, offer to bake something or contribute a gift. LOL
Monday, November 10, 2008
A interesting advantage of having the Obama family heading up the ole US
As I mentioned, I wasn't in love with either presidential candidate. I ended up voting for McCain *gasp, it's true* only because I felt he was stronger in the national security arena. Palin was charming, but a bad bad choice for his campaign. He had a better shot at winning without her. Regardless, the point of this story is that I wasn't devastated with Obama won because he could have very well been my choice as well. In fact, I've said a dozen times I wish I could have combined the campaign with McCain as prez and Obama as VP. That would have been the perfect ticket!
Today, while eating lunch with my 4 year old and scanning this week's issue of People magazine, I said to her, "See this man? This is the new president of the United States. When we waited in that long line to vote last week, this is who won." I then explained the process about how the whole country had to vote, much like when I take a vote for going to the aquarium or park and whichever choice has the most votes wins. I talked about Barrack Obama had the most votes and now he's president.
I flipped through the magazines and showed her pictures of Michelle Obama and their daughters. Suddenly, at the sight of the children, she grew interested and asked questions. "Where does he live? What's his phone number? When will I see him? Is he a dad?" I got almost giddy. I never thought about it, but I think having a young family in the White House will rope in the interest of children in civics all across this nation!
Our conversation ended with my daughter telling me that I should let her know when we'll see him because she'd like to make him a picture at her school. While McCain was my choice, he wasn't be nearly as relatable to her.
I'm doubting she'll be asking about changes to domestic fiscal policy come January of 2009, but she knows far more about our government and how it works because of a picture of Barrack Obama than she did a few hours ago and as a parent, that's a success!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
I, about an hour ago, turned into my mother
I can remember my mom having this glow-in-the-dark plastic #1 key chain that she'd stick masking tape too with notes to herself. I can remember being in 4th grade and she had "violin" on the masking tape. Guess she thought I needed some practice!
Tomorrow is my daughter's snack day at kindergarten. Miraculously I remembered to purchase said snack at the grocery store with no panic. I found exactly what was requested. I have the popcorn bags in my handy dandy reusable bag. The water bottles (which cancel out the reusable bag ten-fold, in case anyone is keeping an environmental score on this one) are still in the garage so I don't forget them.
As I prepped our things this evening to ensure a smooth morning (which included a thirty minute search for a missing blankie) I taped a piece of paper that reads "Snack Day" on both my steering wheel and jogging stroller - didn't want to limit my mode of transportation! As I walked back from the garage, it hit me. I have just turned into my mother. I, again, realize she is brilliant and deserving of a momorable mention. You rock mom!
Tomorrow is my daughter's snack day at kindergarten. Miraculously I remembered to purchase said snack at the grocery store with no panic. I found exactly what was requested. I have the popcorn bags in my handy dandy reusable bag. The water bottles (which cancel out the reusable bag ten-fold, in case anyone is keeping an environmental score on this one) are still in the garage so I don't forget them.
As I prepped our things this evening to ensure a smooth morning (which included a thirty minute search for a missing blankie) I taped a piece of paper that reads "Snack Day" on both my steering wheel and jogging stroller - didn't want to limit my mode of transportation! As I walked back from the garage, it hit me. I have just turned into my mother. I, again, realize she is brilliant and deserving of a momorable mention. You rock mom!
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Idle conversation in the hour and half wait to vote
As my daughter told my husband on Tuesday night, "I boated" (voted). She proudly wore the sticker she earned. Sure she didn't actually select a candidate, but she waited with me and her sister. That was a bigger commitment to her than choosing the next president of the United States.
Of course, I'm tragically late in talking about this topic, so no need to discuss who I voted for and who won. I will say I didn't have my mind made up until I got into line, so I wasn't in love with anyone. Yet I will say that several people I know have been laid off or lost their jobs completely since Tuesday, so that's a little scary. I pray it's not an indication of what the economy will be like during the next four years.
So anyway, while we waited for roughly 90 minutes, I listened. Everyone around me was making friends with each other. I was on my own as, I guess, I had my children to talk too. Here are snippets of what I heard. Gotta love idle chatter.
"I wasn't sad when my parents sold the house I grew up in. Most of my memories were of getting yelled and grounded there."
"What is dog rescue? I mean, were the animals actually in a threatening situation?"
"Are golden retrievers good with kids?"
"I remember walking through snow that was waist high to school" (uphill both ways, I'm thinking)
"Do you teach them at home?" (said to me)
(said to my girls) "Girls, in my Happy Meal, I have a boy toy. Would you like it?"
(oldest daughter) shakes head
(me) "Mommy would"
"Man the line is long."
"How much longer will we have to wait?"
"We've been waiting for 50 minutes."
"Waiting sucks."
"Waiting, waiting, waiting..."
"Have you ever noticed that Wal-Mart's loud speaker is really loud?"
Of course, I'm tragically late in talking about this topic, so no need to discuss who I voted for and who won. I will say I didn't have my mind made up until I got into line, so I wasn't in love with anyone. Yet I will say that several people I know have been laid off or lost their jobs completely since Tuesday, so that's a little scary. I pray it's not an indication of what the economy will be like during the next four years.
So anyway, while we waited for roughly 90 minutes, I listened. Everyone around me was making friends with each other. I was on my own as, I guess, I had my children to talk too. Here are snippets of what I heard. Gotta love idle chatter.
"I wasn't sad when my parents sold the house I grew up in. Most of my memories were of getting yelled and grounded there."
"What is dog rescue? I mean, were the animals actually in a threatening situation?"
"Are golden retrievers good with kids?"
"I remember walking through snow that was waist high to school" (uphill both ways, I'm thinking)
"Do you teach them at home?" (said to me)
(said to my girls) "Girls, in my Happy Meal, I have a boy toy. Would you like it?"
(oldest daughter) shakes head
(me) "Mommy would"
"Man the line is long."
"How much longer will we have to wait?"
"We've been waiting for 50 minutes."
"Waiting sucks."
"Waiting, waiting, waiting..."
"Have you ever noticed that Wal-Mart's loud speaker is really loud?"
Feelings of dread
To say I've been busy is a horrid understatement. Since my last entry, I've spent a week in the Bay Area for work, had my older daughter lose a first tooth, celebrated my 34th birthday, celebrated my younger daughter's 4th birthday (several times, actually), went to two fall festivals, attended a kindergarten field trip to a farm and threw a party. You'd think I'd be spending this weekend in a pretty blissful state of quiet. Nope.
I'm held by a few confidentiality agreements, but without saying too much, it feels like so many of my friends and family are losing their jobs. It's hard to not worry about when our family's "other shoe" will drop. We're doing okay financially. Our Christmas should be good. We're heading down to Disney World. I'm not complaining in the slightest. Though I suddenly feel strongly that I should be dedicating a set amount of time each week to work on the book I've started. There may come a day when I'm desperate for that income.
While one specific friend is trying to keep her spirits high, when I saw her today and she told me her husband was laid off, I could see anxiety and tears just below the surface. I really want to take her out to dinner just to talk, but I wouldn't want to ask her to spend needless money and I don't want it to seem like I'm pitying her by paying. Maybe it should be a cup of coffee, so there's no big expense. I don't know...but I want to hug her. Her kiddos were with her, so I knew she had to put on a strong face. I feel so bad. :-(
While my husband and I have our jobs, I just feel so dreadful. I'm nervous. I'm anxious. I have huge bags of Halloween candy that comfort me in the way of killing me.
Why do these things always happen right around the holidays? I just feel so bad.
I'm held by a few confidentiality agreements, but without saying too much, it feels like so many of my friends and family are losing their jobs. It's hard to not worry about when our family's "other shoe" will drop. We're doing okay financially. Our Christmas should be good. We're heading down to Disney World. I'm not complaining in the slightest. Though I suddenly feel strongly that I should be dedicating a set amount of time each week to work on the book I've started. There may come a day when I'm desperate for that income.
While one specific friend is trying to keep her spirits high, when I saw her today and she told me her husband was laid off, I could see anxiety and tears just below the surface. I really want to take her out to dinner just to talk, but I wouldn't want to ask her to spend needless money and I don't want it to seem like I'm pitying her by paying. Maybe it should be a cup of coffee, so there's no big expense. I don't know...but I want to hug her. Her kiddos were with her, so I knew she had to put on a strong face. I feel so bad. :-(
While my husband and I have our jobs, I just feel so dreadful. I'm nervous. I'm anxious. I have huge bags of Halloween candy that comfort me in the way of killing me.
Why do these things always happen right around the holidays? I just feel so bad.
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