Page 35 - San Diego Woman interactive pdf

ut Mommy, there’s left for me to finish off that
Bnothing to do! Seri- bottle of rum. Yummmm.
ously?!? Only 3 days after The problem is this:
Christmas, and my very There is so much buildup
creative and resourceful and excitement and frenzy
daughters are complaining happening before that
that they have nothing to big day, there is equally
do? Maybe this is their as much expectation for
way of breaking down after the end result. Kids rip
a quarantined holiday? off paper, expecting gifts
Maybe they didn’t get what to be the answer to their
they really wanted and this ultimate happiness, when
is their way of telling me? the gift isn’t really what
Maybe they got too much they want or need anyway.
stuff and are becoming What they really want is to
ungrateful because of it? enjoy every new thing that
Or maybe, just maybe, is happening, no matter
they are only kids and how small, in their own
don’t know how else to time and pace; but most
express the emptiness they importantly, with us. It’s
feel after the craziness that us adults that cause all the
is Christmas. frenzy with the rushing
You notice this “emp- about, and all the things Christmas Letdown
ty” feeling right after the that “need to get done.” I
holiday which is relatively always feel so disconnect-
universal for kids and ed with my kids during Article & Photo by Lisa Lohani
adults alike. We do so the buildup before Christ-
much to prepare: we dec- mas because of everything
orate, buy, bake, buy some I feel I need to get done. I
more, drink, wrap, buy don’t spend as much time the kids are finally doing gathered and separated
more last minute stuff, and connecting with them and what they used to do: into their own special stor-
then eat the stuff we baked appreciating all the fun getting creative with what age place where, I have a
as we drink a lot of spiked stuff together as much as they have around them. strong feeling, will be kept
eggnog and cider. It’s hard I would like. Of course This time, they decided to in higher regard than most
for kids too though. They we have our traditions collect rocks to find the of the toys in their rooms.
have to help decorate, that we do together as a “gems” inside. They asked Even though I’m
wait, help bake, wait some family, but there is still a me for a hammer, and I the adult with more life
more, get excited because large amount of time of reluctantly gave them one, experience, my kids con-
school is out, then wait adults acting like headless worried about hammered tinuously teach me new
some more. When the day chickens. fingers. My worry quick- things about living. This
finally comes, everything Now, I’m not advo- ly dissipated while I sat time I learned that there
turns into a frenzy of gifts, cating we cancel gifts all and watched them with is much joy to be found
sweets, gifts, more sweets, together. That might be a fascination as they uncer- in simple discoveries of
and more gifts! No wonder little cruel at this point. emoniously pounded each the world around us, and
there is a general sense of No, I’m thinking some- rock, one by one, to dis- that it is important to
letdown after everything thing else needs to change cover one of the beauties stop and enjoy as much
is over. It reminds me of to help all of us feel less of Mother Nature. It was of it as we can, and most
that feeling you get once “empty” after the holidays. so simple, yet surreal to importantly, cherish that
a really exciting, feel good It’s been about a week after see them become excited joy with someone we love.
movie ends, and the cred- Christmas, and every- about the colors, textures, I think that if we took this
its start playing to a song thing has settled down and crystals inside each time to stop and enjoy
that sounds like it belongs to a normal pace around and every rock. This the spirit and joy of the
in a dive bar at closing our house. The Christmas discovery probably lasted holidays with our loved
time. Major letdown. My presents sit in a pile in for about an hour, and was ones as much as possible,
spirits sort of lift though their rooms, mostly forgot- only brought to a close due we might, at the end of it
when I realize there is just ten about, and not touched to lack of sunlight. The all, feel a little less empty
enough cider and eggnog since that big day. Outside, remnants were carefully inside.

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