Time for:
Cautious students. You may not know it, but I have some of the most cautious students in the world. If it might snow or the rain might freeze, you can bet they would not risk harming anyone by driving to class. As it happens, is did snow and the rain did freeze on Sunday, which had great implications for class attendance on Friday and Monday.Sickness. I was about to write that I can't remember the last time I had a sinus infection-cough-general sick malaise that dragged on for this long, but I can, vividly. It was this time of year, two years ago.
Fall Photos. Hey look! The kids did dress up for Halloween. Dianthus was a firefighter. Aster was a bucket-head with an alligator on his shoulder (I may be his mom, but sometimes even I can only manage literal interpretations). Hey look! Fall happened in Colorado and Oklahoma and was gorgeous both places. Hey look! The Mister and I became muddy in the mud run!
Holiday Indecision and Stress Ten days ago, back on Nov. 16, one of my Facebook friends posted a photo of her just-decorated Christmas tree because she just couldn't wait to start the season. The next story in my news feed was a friend who is going to boycott the "Christmas Industrial Complex" entirely this year. At the time, both positions felt a bit silly (although I will let you know, that my snowflakes are up. Maybe in 2014 I'll take them down.)-- Christmas can wait until after Thanksgiving and Christmas is lovely. But then I start to get caught up in it. And it is stressful. And I want to start now. And I want to hole up entirely. I do care that we have good homemade pie and whipped cream that was whipped (not sprayed out of a can) on Thanksgiving. I do want to light the advent wreath. I want my sons to have memories of baking gingerbread men with their mother. I even want them to have memories of waking up in their own house and looking at what Santa brought on Christmas morning, but I am too timid or complacent to actually bring up that conversation. I want to sing carols. I love fruitcake and eggnog lattes and clam chowder on Christmas Eve and basically I love tradition. I'm also appalled that downtown in my town is piping in loud praise music, already. Lots of exterior decorations just strike me as obscene wastes of energy, although I've gained new appreciation of viewing lights as cranky toddler darkness time filler.I really thought I had a point to this when I sat down to write it. I'm struggling to find it. Let me know what you love about the season and that I'm not alone in making my own stress (e.g. it wouldn't be nearly as stressful if I bought cookies for the cookie exchange-- but then what would be the point of the exchange. I could buy everyone gift cards, but I can't . . ) and on to the other things that it is time for.
Finals Ambivalence Can't wait 'til they get her, can't believe how much we have left to do . . .
Next Year Procrastination I assume this affects people who aren't on semesters as well, but there is a common problem among academics-- survive until finals, survive the holidays, then worry about next semester. Except those lab orders need to be in, that grant needs to be submitted and the new class needs a new syllabus (but surely I'll do it in Colorado or Kansas).
Lighting Candles Hanukkah starts tonight.
Being Thankful Whiny as this may list may be, I am taking time to express gratitude. I am oh so thankful for my life of abundance, both in material things, spiritual joy, and the wonderful people who are in my life. Thank you, beloved friends and family.
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3 comments:
I don't have children, therefore, I don't have the pressure of creating tradition...but, I have decided to put up my tree only every few years. That way, I enjoy seeing the ornaments and enjoy the whole process. Plus, no one ever sees my tree but me.
I do like to go to some effort for outdoor lights, because people do see those and I like walking at night and seeing the lights.
I like making homemade Christmas (which has turned into New Years for less pressure) cards, but I now cheat a great deal by using photocopies or print photos. But, I still think it's more personal and yet it's much easier on me.
Anyway, I guess I'm saying...pick some things you MUST have for the holidays and let the rest slide or be store bought or find your cheats and enjoy.
As my therapist says, this time of year keeps her in business for a long time after.
I think for academics, the holiday season is just that much more stressful, but perhaps not, I have never been anything else. I am actually excited about my classes next year, perhaps because they might be my last? Perhaps because I am excited about the new textbooks I adopted? Perhaps because I just want to thumb my nose at the school? Probably a combination of all.
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