I love getting cards from friends and family at Christmas. But about six years ago I stopped mailing them. I just couldn’t do it anymore.
The holidays are tough – especially for a single, working mother trying to raise two kids, work full time, and pull off the idealized version of a Norman Rockwell Christmas. Something had to give – so the Christmas cards (among other things) bit the dust. But I began writing a post-Christmas/New Year’s newsletter. It seemed to be a good way to let people know what was going on with the boys and I. And, I got positive feedback from those who read it.
What was most surprising was how cathartic it was. It has became an annual time of quiet reflection for me to look back on all that has happened in the past year as I look ahead towards what is to come in the next. It’s also fun to go back and read the old newsletters to see how much the boys have grown, where their lives are now, and how things have changed – or stayed the same – in the past six years. I just finished my 2017 Christmas newsletter and thought I’d share it here for those who are interested.
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” -Albert Einstein
Another Christmas is in the books; another new year looms.
When I was a young mom, older women would stop me in the grocery store when I was frazzled from trying to keep my kids from climbing out of the cart and destroying a display of neatly stacked merchandise, or perhaps saying “no” for the gillionth time as they begged me to buy them some candy. The calm looking ladies who had the luxury of shopping ALL.BY.THEMSELVES. would smile wistfully and say something to the effect of, “The days are long but the years are short. Enjoy them while you can.They grow up so fast.” I would smile through clenched teeth and somehow manage to keep from strangling them (and my children) on the spot.
And now, I have become them. I try so hard not to make eye contact with the young moms and their screaming kids in the grocery store, out of respect for what they are going through. But every now and then I forget and I find those very same words coming out of my mouth. I regret it instantly, of course. But someday, I know history will repeat itself and they will be saying the same thing to the next generation of grocery store warrior-moms.
In many ways 2017 was just like that. Some of the days were LONG…but the year was short. These are a few of the highlights from our world. (Click here to see a .pdf of the full newsletter.)
Wishing you much joy and happiness this Christmas season, and sending much love to you and yours.
May the love that was born on Christmas night light all your days with joy and hope.
