THE HOLIDAYS!
“yes….yes indeed…Santa Claus is coming to town” and soon.
I offer this blog post out early in December as a way to share how we prepare our mindset for the upcoming holiday time.
As a child the holidays were filled with just wonderful, busy but not too busy. When I think of them, I can almost hear the laughter of my family and feel the cozy warmth of love. Yes, the holidays were that and more. Maybe it felt calm as I was in the role of a child or maybe that is how they felt “back then” In any case, the holidays of before are quite different than the holidays of today for us.
Early in our marriage, think before children, we planned whatever we wanted to do for those fun weeks before Christmas and for the actual day itself. When we had our first child, Emily, we had to plan our schedule around naptimes and bedtimes, always being sure to pack the right snacks and entertainment to make sure Emily enjoyed her day. What then seemed busier with a child was really quite doable and fun. The holidays continued in this manner for a couple years until Elizabeth was born….it was then we learned that our holidays,our ways that had worked for us for so long was in no way going to be what worked for our second child.
I can remember our first Christmas with Elizabeth. She was almost six months old. So for those who have read my book know that at this time we really had no idea of what she had but we knew something was wrong. The crying and clinging were a constant in our days but both seemed to increase during the holidays. Most times babies and young children can get quite a kick out of seeing family members, having them over to play and visit. Emily did that is for sure, but Elizabeth did not, she couldn’t, her system just couldn’t. So it was at this first Christmas, that we began to get schooled in how we were going to have to manipulate the holidays to fit Elizabeth’s needs. We had to learn to do this while still giving Emily all the fun she wanted, while smiling on the outside and having our hearts crushing on the inside.
Once Elizabeth was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder or SPD, we quickly learned how our thinking needed to change. We learned early on that what we WANTED to do each holiday and what COULD do were two different things. No longer could we simply say “yes” to an event, or a party get together or if we had it then, zoom video calls. We had to think of the sights, sounds and smells that would assault Elizabeth’s system.
Having now successfully navigated near to 23 Christmas seasons, I wanted to take a moment to offer out some of the things we think about as we enter this season:
JUST BECAUSE “THEY” SAY YOU NEED TO DO IT, DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE TO: I wanted to start here because for some reason, someone or a group of someone has become the “they” that we all reference when speaking of the holiday. “They are doing this” or “They say this year everyone is….” It is this group of “they” who deem the holidays be filled with parties, shopping and BUSY! But truthfully, it does not have to be this way…Pick what YOU want to do, are allowed to do and what YOU hope to accomplish for your family and allow yourself to be okay with it. If you make it to one video call and your family and child has fun, then consider that a success. No one said all things need to be done to make a Merry Christmas…Be true to yourself and your wishes …no matter what and especially this year.
SOME OF THE BEST PRESENTS ARE THE ONES YOU CANNOT WRAP: I watch so many commercials that say “Get this as the perfect gift” “Make you children happy with this toy” or “Don’t forget to give that special person …” and trust me I have done my fair share of finding the PERFECT presents over the years. But having a child like Elizabeth, with such definite special needs, one learns that the gift of her smile, a happy day together with family, a special memory made with her siblings or even a new achievement done that day, like handling the noise and intensity of something deemed important, can be a present better than anyone that could fit under a tree. 2020 has taught us nothing if not to treasure time and those you love! The gift of happiness and good memories, for me, beats any gift.
TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPLAIN WHY YOU CANNOT DO SOMETHING: Talking about you child, their needs to others and your family will bring you peace. I say this as my opinion, but having hid our needs for so long before and having tried to make it all work. I find it so freeing to simply say ” We can’t thank you so much and here is why” Perhaps attending in a limited capacity or at a time that works best for your child might work but without being honest you will never know if it is an option.
CHRISTMAS IS A DAY…TRULY …JUST A 24 HOUR PERIOD: I offer this out for you as well as for me, to help keep things in perspective. It is a day…ONE SINGLE DAY… a day made bigger by the media and merchants but in truth simply a day. For me a day to rejoice in the true meaning of Christmas…the infant in the manger…star…the promise…. I am not waxing religious here just saying that to celebrate the day your way, to be okay with what you CAN do…to make the memories your way….well perhaps like Linus says “That Charlie Brown is the true meaning of Christmas”
I wish you a peaceful week and please wear a mask! We need to do this together!