I LOVE the holidays! I love decorating, cooking cold-weather foods, attending children's events and giving gifts! So many things to look forward to! So many perfect memories! SCREECH! Welcome to the season of unrealistic expectations.
Most of us have experienced at least one holiday that wasn't what we'd hoped for. We have this Norman Rockwell vision of what our meal will look like, and then the turkey doesn't defrost in time or the kids break mom's favorite crystal. Oh, so many things can happen on these special days. So here's something to think about -- when you're leaving a busy city at 5 PM, you KNOW there will be traffic. You plan for what you know is coming. You can't control the traffic, but you can control how you handle it. The holidays aren't much different. Just remember, your kids are watching...
I remember when my son was 3 and he was just learning about opening presents and was very tentative. It took forever to open one gift. So, we "brilliantly" taught him to tear that paper off with gusto and move on to the next gift (we had to get to breakfast eventually)! Fast forward 2 years and now he's opening them (just the way we taught him) by tearing the paper off in seconds and barely looking at the gift before tossing it away to move on to the next one. "Take your time honey, we want you to appreciate your gifts!". Huh? Slightly confusing message for a child.
When you think about what your expectations are during this time of year, think about how you're teaching your children to manage their own expectations. Allow a little wiggle room for their behavior and guide them by your example. Prepare for the ups and downs of this hectic, happy season and I know you'll get to enjoy the precious moments you're hoping for, and perhaps when you least expect them.
