I am getting overwhelmed… we are having an over booked Holiday season. Between parties, family, work, a silly toddler who runs around our house like a Christmas Nut 90% of the time and a big Giving Tree obligation I took on (more on that soon!) we are running on empty.
It feels so easy to turn this into frustration, resentment and anger with Charlie. Not because he is to blame but because he is who I am closest to and most comfortable with. Luckily, thanks to loads of counseling, we are both pretty awesome at bringing up our frustrations (even if they are super minor) and not letting them fester and grow into something ugly and painful for the both of us. For example, it is easy for me to hang on to minor stuff like leaving a dish in the sink, playing sudoko instead of straightening up or neglecting to help clean up after dinner (by the way those are all rare occurrences). I take each one and pack it away for the next fight so that I can unload all(lllll) the ways I am justified in my anger. It is a mess. The other night we were driving home (from an awesome surprise party for my MIL) and we got to talking about what we can be doing to be sure not to fall into that space of discontent ( a space that becomes a gaping hole during the Holidays). The crux is thankfulness.
We come back to this over and over (and over and over) again. We are blessed beyond anything and provided for so abundantly and further than we could ever dream of deserving. But I am still such a punk that I need to remind myself of this time and time again. Thankfulness lists are a great way to do this. So without further ado- my Thankfulness List on this packed-busy-full Season.
this skirt and my growling little lady!
1. Nolie saying “I love you” without prompting while we nursed and cuddled last night.
2. Charlie getting up early and cleaning the house so that I wake up to a beautiful, candles lit, Christmas tree glowing home.
3. A kicking baby who is growing-growing-growing.
4. Giving beyond what feels comfortable and seeing others doing the same.
5. Easy DIY projects and crafting with sweet Noele.
6. A fully homemade Christmas!
7. Roasting a whole chicken with lots of root veggies and onions.
8. Vanilla Salt on everything sweet (so far, cookies, cinnamon rolls and brownies…yum)
9. Nolies total love for her Grandma, Grandpa, Nana and Grandpa Charlie. She loves without any bounds… it is magic.
10. Candy Cane tea and dark chocolate as an afternoon snack
11. New maternity clothes and finding a style that makes me feel good about myself and not like a big oaf!
This list could go on and on and on… I adore it. Feeling lighter and brighter after writing these all the time! No matter how menial and silly or deep and weighty the points are, they turn me around and in the right direction. Do you write these? If you put one on your blog, comment here so I can visit it!
a silly silly big sister who is OBSESSED with photo booth!
Oh my gosh, Autumn — I LOVE that skirt! What a super cute outfit, and it shows off your little baby bump so nicely
You are adorable.
“It feels so easy to turn this into frustration, resentment and anger with Charlie…because he who I am closest too and most comfortable with.” Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding! I do this, too. Although I think part of a good partnership is being able to unload on the other person (or be unloaded on) with the shared knowledge that this will pass, that it’s about how you’re feeling right NOW, and not about the state of your relationship or your love for each other.
You’re looking absolutely gorgeous, and your little lady is totally precious!
Noelle {Aloud} recently posted..Rest in Movement
This is such a great idea! I love the way SouleMama does her “right now” series: http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2011/11/right-now.html, something I think I might adopt too in the near year. I’ve seen versions of it on other blogs. It’s always a good idea to stop and be thankful, i think that would help with my daily resentments as well.
Emily recently posted..Santa Photos
I am SO with you Noelle- I think the key for us is always unloading instead of holding it back. But both of us (mainly me) need to figure out how to unload without it being a big toxic jerk fest. Unloading in love? Something like that. But I agree wholeheartedly that i think that is part of the beauty of long term partnerships.