Comments on: Wind Down Week

By: Barbara Jacoby

Barbara Jacoby — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:53:41 +0000

I am so glad that you have the children to help you to create new holiday memories. Although I do have wonderful memories from my childhood of the holidays, that was a long time ago. My parents and my brother are no longer living and my sister will be spending the holidays in Europe with her daughter who is living there now but that’s okay. I have created a whole new set of memories with my husband (no children in our home) that I wouldn’t trade for anything. They are nothing like the ones from my childhood but they are just as special to me as anything from years gone by. I just am so grateful for the opportunity to have this year to enjoy the holidays so much more than any other in the past and I will make sure that that is what happens. And from the sound of things, you, too, have embraced the spirit for yourself and your family and will make these the best ones every. Like you say, just seeing the joy of the holidays in the eyes of your children is everything and those are the memories that will last forever.

By: Rina Kennedy

Rina Kennedy — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:53:14 +0000

I always sent up my tree and lights the day after thanksgiving. I have little traditions that I do with my kids. They love the holidays. I used to love them, but now I have a different feel for the holiday’s, they are both fun and a little depressing for me, because it brings up childhood memories of my family that has been torn apart by my parents divorce and secrets. 6 years ago on Dec. 27 I found out that I had a different dad than my siblings. My mom had been married to the man that I thought was my dad for three years when she got preggo with me. She kept it from my “dad” for 8 years, and kept it from me for 20 years. I’m still trying to find myself, but I keep moving, everyday, I don’t dwell on it. But every holiday season those are the memories that come up weather I like it or not. But I have been blessed to have had 3 kids they take the attention away from sad memories. Just seeing their faces light up every time they hear a Christmas song or their excitement over seeing lights just warms my heart and brings tears to my eyes. They have taught me to go back to a simple live, to enjoy the little things, and to make my own memories with my children even though those memories will be different from my childhood ones.

By: Barbara Jacoby

Barbara Jacoby — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:04:18 +0000

I know what you mean about a wind down month but that would never happen for me either. I am just trying to place less importance on things that don’t really matter very much. I am actually looking forward to my mall trip, too.

By: Tina

Tina — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:54:56 +0000

What a wonderful idea. I think I need a whole wind down month though, but it will NEVER happen. LOL I too do most of my shopping online, but am planning on at least one trip to the mall to see Santa this year!

By: Barbara Jacoby

Barbara Jacoby — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:17:53 +0000

I completely agree with you. I really want to enjoy every single moment of the holidays this year. Now knowing you, I’ll bet that you do a lot of baking and entertaining for the holidays. You are just so good at staying on top of all of those kinds of things. Wow, sounds like you have a fabulous place to shop for some really special and different gifts. As for the tree, I love the smell, too, but I’ll bet that you fill your home with lots of wonderful other smells so that your husband doesn’t even think about it. Well, I have one major project to finish this week and then I am done until January. The more I think about it, the more I like this idea. Have a wonderful week, too.

By: Mandi

Mandi — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:54:25 +0000

Sounds like “Wind Down Week” is a good plan! It is important to enjoy the season. I like to do most of my holiday shopping before the malls get to crowded. Right before Christmas, the malls get a little too crowded for me and then they start acting grumpy. My holiday shopping started last Friday ~ officially anyway. We went to the Nutcracker Market in Houston. It’s a huge 3 day shopping event with so many vendors that there was no way to see them all. The Nutcracker Market always gets me in the mood for Christmas. I love all the decorations and all the lights. I have to have an artificial tree because I’m allergic to real ones. My husband isn’t very happy about that because he loves the smell. But so do I and I certainly can’t help it. Enjoy your week of winding down. It’s going to be a wonderful holiday season. Starting now!!