..into the Holidays!!!
I am one of the anti-Christmas rebels. I will not think about, shop for, or otherwise plan Christmas until after Thanksgiving. I detest the sudden forests of metallic decorated trees in retail centers across the nation--in September. I abhor the radio stations which switch to holiday music on November 1st ("Because Christmas should mean a little more!" SPARE ME!). I leave my mums, pumpkins, and corn stalks in my garden long past Veteran's Day--and refuse to string lights on my bushes until December. I don't care how much warmer it is three weeks earlier.
but wait.
Imagine my surprise at finding myself poring over cookie recipes, planning my shopping excursions, thinking about holiday decor, digging out teh ADvent books adn candles, even looking at travel plans; all in the single-digit days of November. What is wrong with me???? Who stifled my Scrooge? Who reformed my Grinch? What sinister plot has been set in motion to prevent me from my 5-days-before-Christmas annual holiday meltdown?
Don't get me wrong--I have not actually ACCOMPLISHED any holiday-related tasks as yet. It's going to take a lot more than just a whimsical sugarplum or two dancing through my head to push me that far in the other directions. But even so, this is a major divergence from normal. Perhaps I am having a personal Epiphany. Maybe this is a sign that I have evolved to the level of Martha Stewart readiness, by-passing the frantic hype and moving toward self-actualized holiday enlightenment. Maybe this is the year I find myself able to experience Advent as a journey to the celebration of God's most blessed gift to man--a Savior for us all.
'Tis the season! After all, the whole thing started with a miracle, didn't it?
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Every family has one, don't they?
Most of you know I have four children: the loves of my life, a delightful mix of their father and me. Each has his/her own special talents and gifts, quirks of personality which make them stand apart from the others.
Occasionally, however, a quirk becomes a totally confounding issue, and I suddenly find myself out of parenting ideas. This has been the week. What do you do when you don't know what to do? My prayers have thus far been met with resounding silence. I admit to being slightly hard of hearing, having failed miserably in transcending elementary prayer to achieve subliminal enlightenment with the creator. God has not yet positioned in front of my eyes the flashing, neon, directional child-rearing map I seek. I'm waiting....
How can one sweet, charming, intelligent young lad suddenly create a maelstrom of grades, detentions, meltdowns--while remaining sweet and charming (well, most of the time)? I can sit with him and see that he gets the concepts, and understands the theories, so where are we losing it?
There will be meetings with teachers, counselors, administrators. We will throw around ideas, talk about important concepts like individualized education, differentiated learning methods, personal growth plans. I know the school wants him to succeed as much as we do, so we're all on the same team. My child will continue to assert that the teacher doesn't like him (his words are much stronger). I will continue to let him know that he is infinitely lovable. If this particular teacher does not click with him, what a tremendous loss for her--but homework must be done, tests must be passed. I have no doubt we will be able to turn him around, because this is one smart kid.
But Lord, if you could hurry up with that neon missive, I would greatly appreciate it!
Occasionally, however, a quirk becomes a totally confounding issue, and I suddenly find myself out of parenting ideas. This has been the week. What do you do when you don't know what to do? My prayers have thus far been met with resounding silence. I admit to being slightly hard of hearing, having failed miserably in transcending elementary prayer to achieve subliminal enlightenment with the creator. God has not yet positioned in front of my eyes the flashing, neon, directional child-rearing map I seek. I'm waiting....
How can one sweet, charming, intelligent young lad suddenly create a maelstrom of grades, detentions, meltdowns--while remaining sweet and charming (well, most of the time)? I can sit with him and see that he gets the concepts, and understands the theories, so where are we losing it?
There will be meetings with teachers, counselors, administrators. We will throw around ideas, talk about important concepts like individualized education, differentiated learning methods, personal growth plans. I know the school wants him to succeed as much as we do, so we're all on the same team. My child will continue to assert that the teacher doesn't like him (his words are much stronger). I will continue to let him know that he is infinitely lovable. If this particular teacher does not click with him, what a tremendous loss for her--but homework must be done, tests must be passed. I have no doubt we will be able to turn him around, because this is one smart kid.
But Lord, if you could hurry up with that neon missive, I would greatly appreciate it!
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