Christmas Cards and Holiday Resolutions
Last night, my husband and I finally got through the Christmas cards. It amused me because he decided we’d do it together at the kitchen table while sipping hot cocoa. 
“You write it, and I’ll tell you what to say,” he suggested.
Uh, no. 
“How about you write out the cards for your side and I’ll write out the cards for my side,” I countered.
He protested, at which point I gave him the hairy eyeball. 
He contemplated what to say on the first card while I started in on my stack. After it took him 3-4 minutes to decide what to say on card #1, rephrasing and adjusting, I pointed to the stack. “Honey, we have 54 cards to do. If you spend that long, we’ll be here all night.” Finally, we got into a rhythm, and he DID do his stack which helped tremendously. It amused me because by the end, he was writing, “Happy Holidays” and “Best wishes in 2006.” We stuffed them with our annual Christmas letter and I’m sure our postal lady will just love us when she sees our mailbox today. 
I must remember to get her something. You just have to buy a gift for a woman named Reesey Cup.
Anyway, I’ve learned a bit about myself this week. One, if you’re working full time, you cannot also be Suzy Homemaker, baking cookies, cleaning the house, and wrapping gifts, without having a nervous breakdown and becoming a grinch among your family. Next year, I either take a day off from working to do the holiday stuff or I cut WAY back on what I do. I think the day off sounds like a good plan. 
I do think it’s next to impossible to write during the holidays, though, when you only have an hour and a half at night. My time is just sucked up into a vacuum. I’m resolving to either take a week or two off from writing during the Christmas season, or somehow find ways to write during the day time. Nights just aren’t happening.
So what holiday stresses do you put yourself through?:drunk:
Michelle posted in Writing @ 7:39 am | Viewed 1477 times
Bonnie Ferguson Says:
LOL, Michelle
I think the day off idea sounds good too 
Kelly Says:
I don’t have any holiday stresses really, at least not ones I put myself thru. Although I do have to suffer thru the holidays being the resident “spinster” who is about to reach the last gasp of her 30s without having married. The relatives seem to like to bring that up every chance they get. I just console myself with the fact that I look better than all of them. *g* I knew my vanity would come in handy one of these days…
Caro Says:
We’ve been cutting down on the holiday stress as much as we can over the last few years. The cards still need to get done, but we do gift cards for the family and limit what we buy for each other. We don’t do a lot of decorating, but make a point of getting out and enjoying some of the local displays. Sometimes it gets crazy like last week when we never got home before 9:30 PM, but in general the holidays have been less stressful over the past few years. Most of the stress is now reserved for dealing with the in-laws.
Gina Black Says:
This year for the very first time, the DH is going the Xmas hunting and gathering. It is making a tremendous difference. I’m helping him with the lists and decisions, but he’s doing (most of) the work. Yay!! So less stress here this year. I’m almost enjoying the holiday season so far, too. He does the baking because he loves to bake. I’ve always done the cards because…well, because I have.
Emma Sinclair Says:
I do all of my stuff REALLY early - like the week after Thanksgiving. That way, by the time everyone else is stressing out, I’m fine and cool as a cucumber.
Well, until I actually have to go visit my parents - and then the in-laws.
Christina Says:
I think our biggest holiday stress is trying to fit all of the holiday “stuff” in with the rest of our crazy schedule. For example…last night, SmallBoy and Girl performed in their Christmas program at school at 7 and Girl had to be at a basketball game at 8:00 (thankfully 5 minutes away). Trying to find time to meet with my half-sis from Kentucky when she comes to Chicago between Xmas & New Years, but can only do it on a weeknight around a basketball schedule.
Of course, there’s always the trying-to-visit-12-families-between-
Christmas-Eve-&-Christmas-Day stress too…oh, wait, I forgot to add in mass! YIKES. Ok, gonna stop now…getting stressed!:duh:
Christine Keach Says:
This year has been the first year that I’ve really, REALLY felt a time-crunch. In the last 11 days I’ve had 7 commitments. In the next 3 days I’ve got 3 more. I’m soooo stressed and I really can’t wait for winter break. 2 whole weeks to read, relax and write! (Well, and visit relatives & friends in the frozen northeast!) I just better get a white Christmas out of this!
Mary Says:
I’m pretty good, I get everything done early so I can relax and enjoy the season. However I don’t have little ones or a lot of people to buy for. And I don’t send out Xmas Cards.
Peggy Says:
54?!!! Holy cow! Forget the post office, Hallmark will love you!
Money is always my biggest stress at Christmas.
Melissa Says:
Our biggest holiday stress is trying to figure out what to get everyone on the budget that we’re on. Money is always a concern throughout the year, but it is especially bad now.
I just did my Christmas cards last night. I think they’re starting to become a thing of the past - I don’t get near as many cards as I used to.
Rene Says:
I always plan a Martha Stewart-style Christmas with elegant wrapping paper, cookies too pretty to eat and an immaculate house. It never happens. We don’t put our tree up until the week before Christmas because of my kids. They would destroy it. I usually end up guzzling wine and putting toys together Christmas Eve, finally going to bed around 3 a.m. I am ahead of the game this year but I still figure there will be a nervous breakdown in my holiday future.
Danica Says:
I’ve been trying to spread things out like shopping throughout the year rather than all at once. Plus, partially due to finances, and partially due to the fact that our kids have more crap than they need, we’ve really cut down on what we buy. So shopping isn’t a huge stress.
However, I haven’t gotten around to cards yet.