Good morning, girl. Is it Friday yet? How are you holding up?
November and December are big months for Working Mommies. Thanksgiving groceries (better up the grocery budget, can we do store-bought pie?), family in town (with all the good and bad that comes from getting together with those wonderful, imperfect people you may have complicated relationships with), end of the year wrapping-up work stuff (let’s make one last push to close the year strong!), and all of Santa’s duties looming.
Right now, really, right now, I give you permission to say no to anything that doesn’t make your life better. With no guilt. I wave my magic wand and you are free from obligations that will over-stress you out, drain your energy or your budget and take from you without giving back. Viola. You are free.
You will be invited to many things; you will be asked to do many things; you are human and there are only so many hours in the day. You cannot do them all.
So, go ahead and blame me if you need to graciously decline the cookie exchange (unless you love to bake in which case, have at it, girl). Blame me when you decline the candle-tupperware-expensive-skin-cream-buying party. Blame me when you choose not to be part of the end of the year advisory board with it’s three day away meeting.
What do you love? Do that.
What fills your soul with joy? Do that.
What helps? Do that.
But please, if you were ever going to protect your life and hours and energy, now is the time.
I love to bake. I love everything about it. I will make an insane number of cookies this year. I hate to shop. I will be grateful (again) for Amazon and Barnes & Noble online and REI.com. Anything to keep me out of the stores. Yes to Thanksgiving Meals on Wheels, amazing family-bonding and make-the-world-a-better-place event that it is. No to the neighborhood ornament exchange. My neighbors are lovely, but I don’t like them as much as I like my kids and there are only so many hours in a day. Especially at this time of year.
Nobody else can filter this for you; only you know your heart.
You know what you need, you know what your family needs.
There is no guilt in crafting your life to respect those needs.
Happy holidaying, Mamma.
With love,