Tis the Season

Tis the season they say.  Of Overindulgence, I might add. 

I don't know abougt you, but I can't help it.  I have what I refer to as an adverse reaction when I even *think* about willpower.  Sure, I will hem and haw over things.  And usually end up doing/eating/buying it anyway.  I will go into this season with the best of intentions and don't even feel any remorse when those intentions get carted out to the garage in the bag from Target that held so many presents on the way home. 

I'm not sure what it is.  My kids do not go without, this is true.  BUT, I don't just buy them things willy nilly - usually there has to be a NEED for the item or it's their birthday or Christmas.  Sometimes a random Tuesday present will make its way to the house, but usually it's something that was so cheap, I couldn't NOT buy it.  And they still don't have as much as a lot of their friends. 

But I will go overboard at Christmas.  Every single stinkin year.  I've tried setting a monetary limit to their gifts this year again - but when one is older, his gifts get more expensive and so he's opening less presents.  And he's at the age where the number of presents IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.  Heaven forbid that J-bird gets more gifts.  Even if they're crap $1 things.  So then I'm trying to juggle numbers and amounts at the same time.  Hello, I dropped my accounting minor - I don't wanna deal with this crap. 

And what does one get for a 9-month old child who is the third boy who has the benefit of every birthday and Christmas present his brothers have ever received?  So far, he has a pillow pet in the closet waiting for him.  I'm thinking of diapers and wipes as well.  Woo Boy, he's in for some excitement.  Probably some annoying singing stuffed animal as well since he is entranced when he hears stuff like that. 

I also know that they will get showered with presents from their grandparents and aunts and uncles.  They are extremely lucky children, I know this.  I know, I know, I know.  I guess I need to realize that maybe mom and dad get them the boring presents - you know, undies and socks, pajamas and jackets.  Ugh. 

I am going to try to get them in the spirit of giving as well.  Teach them that it's not all about receiving.  We've started to talk about this with the food drive at the school and at church, but I don't know that they realize that needy doesn't only mean food, it also extends to toys and clothes and to kids their own age.  Maybe even friends at school or daycare.  I am going to make that my mission for the next month.  And then hopefully I can also get something going every quarter that we can do so that we give throughout the year, not only during the Christmas season. 

Where do you draw the line when it comes to presents and Christmas?? 

Time

Time....Why you punish me?  (imagine sung in a black man's deep voice.  yes, I pulled out a Hootie.  Whatev.)

Lately, time seems to be both my enemy and my friend.  How has it sped up to be so out of control?  Baby Boy is already 8.5 months.  I've got a pre-schooler and a first-grader.  And they can't wait to grow up and do more things that scare the bejeezus out of me. 

The hubs is no help either.  We were recently talking about my dad's birthday.  And he pipes up with "in 17 years, he'll be 80.  We could be grandparents and Sam'll be in high school.  We'll almost be empty-nesters." 

I hit him.  Hard. 

Ok, and then I started to tear up.  Sigh.

I've heard  a phrase and used it myself - the days are long but the years are fast.  And it's true.  Sometimes - ok, almost daily - I am waiting for bedtime to roll around so that the rascals will just STOP and it will be quiet in the house.  But then they wake up older.  And so do I.  Yikes. 

My 33rd birthday is this coming weekend.  And sometimes I feel like I'm still some 22-year-old kid and then I remember that I've got to be RESPONSIBLE for three little boys and then I feel like I've got to be 40.  I can barely take care of myself sometimes, how do I handle this?  Example - today, I drove across the state to meet my brother.  I was all by myself, it's November in North Dakota.  I have a jacket and nothing else.  No gloves, no hat, no boots - no NOTHING to have just in case something happens.  It's a ND winter - ANYTHING could happen.  Am I prepared?  Heck no.  And yet I can keep track of everything for the boys and make sure that they are almost always prepared.  How does that happen?!??! 

Tings

Yikes, been a bit since I posted last.  What have I been up to?  I don't even know.  There was Halloween, birthdays, traveling for work, and sick babies. 

BUT that's all in the past.  What's coming up?  Cakes and travel and end of one chapter and the beginning of a new chapter.  Thanksgiving festivities and sides of beef (yes, really).  Christmas shopping, Christmas parties.  Then on to New Years and mid-winter blues.  Then Hot Sam and Cheese will be turning 1, the school year will end, summer birthdays, school starting, then fall stuff, Halloween, birthdays, traveling for work and hopefully not sick babies!! 

It seems that time is relentlessly speeding up.  I don't know how to slow things down.  Or how to prepare myself so that while things are speeding by, I don't feel overwhelmed.  Yikes!!