Because of the way weekends hit, this is the longest Christmas break the kids have ever experienced. They've been around each other all day, every day, for a long time already.
It was fine at first; they even spent hours in the snow making forts and snow houses and came in with rosy cheeks and grins. But now the Christmas cheer is wearing thin. I'm already getting, "I'm bored!" (What, did all your Christmas toys break already? Didn't think so.)
I'm also getting sibling fights that rival the WWF. Today, one child actually drew blood. "Accidentally."
Uh, huh. Sure.
I planned to get a bunch of stuff done during this week, including some housework stuff that's languished for months (my mending "pile" resembles Kilimanjaro, for starters). But I also feel pressure to make sure the kids have fun during their break.
Like how I promised to take them ice skating at some point. If they weren't so set on killing each other, I wouldn't dread that outing. Somehow I'm thinking that putting sharp metal edges on the feet of children already annoyed with one another isn't the wisest thing to do.
Today was a great start to the week: I had yet another appointment regarding my chronic headaches (I swear I live at the dentist's office), did a Costco run (not much food in the house after Christmas and a trip to Grandma's), and I managed to fold laundry, gather dirty clothes, and throw in a load. I don't have all the dirty ones collected yet, because I was too lazy to make the kids unpack properly when we got home yesterday.
I still have a few Christmas decorations up mocking me that I'm trying to ignore. Stupid, I know, because if I were to just put them away I'd be much happier and the place would be less cluttered. But that would make too much sense.
The kitchen looks like a cyclone swept through it. I can't seem to get the kids practicing piano again after a week off. The little one refuses to do her daily chore, although she's been pretending to do it for two hours now (a chore that would take a motivated 6-year-old oh, five minutes). She's gonna be so ticked when I tell her she can't have a friend over this afternoon because she ran out of time to play.
We have another week until school starts again. Heaven help me.
On a happier note, apparently being a Word Nerd is genetic. A few days ago, I overheard the following from my tween:
"Oh, cool, guys. Check it out. I found a typo on Club Penguin!"
My kids might be trying to kill each other, but at least I've passed on something useful.
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25 comments:
I've been so surprised to see how early people take down their decorations! I've always waited until at least New Years.
I wait to take down decorations until January 6th. That's when the 12 days of Christmas ends.
Not to mention it gives me more time to do it.
I sympathize with you. Even though I homeschool, when the kids are left to run free on a holiday break they try to start World War III.
I hear you! My teens need to get out and play more in the snow :) Come see the beautiful pictures I just posted on my blog :) They will for sure help you feel peace and calm! ♥ Hugs :) Shauna
In Connecticut, Christmas break is shorter. Their first day off is always Christmas eve. I'm so grateful for that. They haven't started going for each other's throats...yet.
Yay for passing on awesome traits!
Oh, and taking down decorations already? You don't wait until after New Year's?
Although we have not drawn blood over here, the getting along has been rough the past few days. Can't wait for school to start again next week.
Yeah, normally, we wait to take down the decorations, but this year was both a real tree year and a visit Grandma right after Christmas year, so we had to take down the tree early so we wouldn't be leaving a fire hazard behind.
Without the tree, leaving everything else up just feels weird!
I'm so glad it's not just me. My kids are absolutely driving me crazy, too.
We have two full weeks of Winter Vacation here this year. I can hardly wait until they go back to school on Monday!
My sanity saver has been making them have quiet time for one hour each day. It's something I used to make them do when they were little, but I brought it back last week. They have to spend one hour upstairs quietly, on their beds. They can sleep, read, draw, color, or watch a video, as long as they are on their beds and quiet. That hour of silence is delightful.
We're still at Grandma's, but I am dreading next week. The kids are not getting along well at Grandma's or otherwise, so I totally sympathize with you there!
I hate taking Christmas down. It's so fun to put it up, but putting it all away is kind of depressing.
Sounds pretty typical to me. I grew up in a fam of 8 kids and Christmas vacation must have seemed foreeevvveerrrr to my mom. I agree about the sharp things on the kids' feet. Big time.
What a funny way to end the post. Love that your kids are grammar ready.
What a time for mothers across the globe. We are all feeling it I think. It is the longest break we have had in a long time too. Goes on and on. Working for me is just one more thing to add to the fire of being overwhelmed at times.
You accomplished a lot though. Proud of you. Laundry folded. That is tops in my book.
I see your dilemma— many times my wife takes down the ornaments and puts them in a shirt box and we don't get round to actually putting them away in the ornament box until maybe Valentines day.
I am so ready to take the decorations down. I usually wait until New Years day, but I think they are coming down tomorrow. It was going to be today, but I got stuck running errands and writing a paper.
I am ready to go back to work- even though that work is at the school.
and the word verification is:
dogfiess- at first I thought it was dogfight
Last year my kids got off for Christmas and didn't go back until February. (Stupid year round school.) It wasn't pretty. And next year they'll do it again. (Stupid smart kids [that's the "gifted" track. It's not a gift to the parents.])
All of my kids are gone for the week and my house is still a mess and I'm not getting anything done!! =) At least you have a reason!
Sorry about your headaches - I hope they stay away for good.
Greg gave the kids a quick little lecture and shared scriptures about who is the Prince of Peace and how they needed to be kind to each other, right before we left to the in-law's. Of course when he finished I had to chime in with who is the Father of Contention etc. I think it helped a little! (the timing was just right)
We took the kids ice skating twice while we were out of town, mostly because Evie goes weekly with her class and still doesn't feel very comfortable. My kids probably couldn't get their skates anywhere near each other ON PURPOSE, no matter how much they hated each other, so I'm safe there. :)
(my WV is "blesses." Hmmmm, can't think of a definition for that one. . .)
We came to Vegas for a few days cause DH had to work. So far it's been good, and I think it threw off the groove enough that they aren't trying to kill each other--yet :-) We still have the drive home
Seven days without practicing, and I think my daughter has forgotten all of her notes. I hear ya.
We always take out stuff down before New Years. My husbands family says that if it stay up past Dec. 31, it is bad luck. That works for me because 1-2 days after Christmas and it starts driving me crazy.
This post could easily have been about me. We have a LONG break that was made LONGER by several snow days and I think we are all getting tired of being together all the time.
Good luck with the rest of the week!
I opened the fridge for the first time last night since Christmas Eve when I put all the leftovers in there. Alex has been eating those leftovers now for what, a week. This morning he told me that potatoes and yams are gone. I wanted to tell him to make some more. I guess I'll cook something else tonight that doesn't involve ham.
Try homeschooling, its a way to either learn to survive sibling rivalry or to cut down the number of kids in your family ;-)
Yeah, I've only got one at home right now and I'm his sole form of entertainment. I can't wait for his brother to come back and pick up the slack.
Oh, I'm so sorry! Everyone needs a little time away! Especially mom.
My kids are eating each other like spiders in a jar. I swear they are going to maim each other. My lamaze breathing still comes in handy.
I'm glad my kids aren't the only ones fighting. I think one week off for Christmas is just about right.
The break is a long time for the kids to be free. Mine are gone most of it at their dad's, so he can put up with their boredom, if there is any at his house, what with all the trips and fun. :)
I love that your daughter finds typos! Good job, Mom!
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