The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I am and its been ages and it feels great! This year, Miss almost 4 is fully conversant in social norms including holidays. In turn, so is her two year old sister ( who also happens to be her most adoring fan). She has already devised her Christmas strategy, first asking what day it falls on, and how many days till then. She understands the theory of Christmas in the Judeo Christian sense, that Santa Claus is derived from St Nicholas, a follower of Chrustian faith and won't be visiting our house because she is lucky enough to have a mummy, a daddy and Jesus thus Santa is rendered surplus to us, but for some others he is still needed. She's pretty ok with that and so am I. The incredible commercialism of society in general but particularly this season bugs me. So im happy she knows the whys. Anyway. This year we're all organised. Haven't gone overboard. But i know they're going to have a super fun morning even if none of the decorations on the tree have survived the lead up to the day. Weather permitting, we'll then take off to the beach, where the kids can splash and mum and dad can appreciate the eye candy of a Sydney summer. Woo hoo to all of it! Lol. Yep getting excited. Feel nine years old again.
Awesome share - thanks so much for the visual of the 'readiness'....I was to have my annual GNO (girls night out) Friday night here and it got cancelled as we had some horrible, horrible weather....while we were all bummed, we texted and joked all night long and got through it.
My parents arrived last night and my AH made a long, slow trip to the airport to get them and deliver them here. All uneventful and I was nervous but grateful they all made it back here safe and sound.
Today, we have the coldest day EVER, and I hosted a family potluck. It was fun and great to see everyone. My aunt usually gathers us together and since she passed, I thought it might be nice to do it in her honor and host it informally. Everyone came and we had fun. Loved watching the kids and they got along well - just a few issues with sharing.
Each year of recovery, I find myself closer aligned to the intent of the holiday season. I have let go of the commercialism completely - do not decorate at all. For me it's about who I can see/visit with instead of what I can gift/buy/decorate like. It's funny - I have a full storage room of holiday decorations and haven't pulled them out for the last 5-6 years. I might do some next year since my grandboys are getting older - but it's a choice and no longer a chore - what a lovely release from how I operated before.
Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy - the kids grow up so, so fast - and they are so fun when they light up a room/day! (((Hugs)))
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Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
I am feeling it! This year, I will have something I've wanted for a long time. In the past, my dread of Christmas increased year by year, as we normally spent it with a family affected by the disease of alcoholism. I wasn't in Al-Anon at the time, and I wished that I could go to a country where they'd never heard of Christmas, and just hide out there until it was all over.
Fast forward to this year... my grown children are both happily settled in their own lives, and I will get my wished-for day. Knowing the kids are alright, and gifts have already been exchanged, I am planning to go to a Christmas-Eve Al-Anon meeting, and then spend a peaceful Christmas Day at home, take the dog for a walk, eat some food, have a phone conversation with a friend, watch a movie. I'll check in on MIP also, as I do every day. Peace in my little corner of the earth!
Thanks for sharing, Xmas is magical with little children and I love how you have explained the concept. I too get disgusted and swept along with the consumerism. Im not at the excited bit yet, working all week and still feeling the pressure of the cost as I overspend then worry. I hope to deal with this financial shortcoming in the coming year. However, not to be too gringe like, I love the food, lots of it, I love getting together with my family, playing games, I love that the new man in my life will have a few wee good times up his sleeve, I love im off work for two weeks and get to lie in, go hillwalking, work more of my program. I have so much to be grateful for this year and I can take care of myself much better these days despite this disease getting permission to up itself a level.x
