Edna Ferber
Tis the season for coughs and colds. Three sick kiddos. Only two of them live with me, but as a mama, I still worry about all of them. I should feel sorry that my babies (the youngest is almost 19, by the way . . . not really babies anymore) are sick, but I have to tell you, I have been having so much fun hanging out with my kids. They are the most amazing people I know. Funny, smart, loving, empathetic. I could go on and on.
In addition to spending time with my boys (my daughter has been too sick to venture out of her house), I got to see one of the loveliest ladies that I get to call my friend today. She brought me many things to help me get well. We have a goal. In three days, I will not be sick anymore. Done with the infection, done with throwing up, done with exhaustion. I will be well for Christmas! Yeppers! I have dubbed my wonderful, Sarah, my witch doctor. I need to make her something that symbolizes this. I have an idea, but it's a secret just in case she is reading this blog right now.
Are you thinking, let's get to the point already, Marla? OK. OK. I'll stop telling you how wonderful my life is now and give you one my pearls of wisdom.
Today's stress free holiday tip:
Repeat after me . . . I am not Martha Stewart.
Here's the deal. You are who you are, and you do the best you can. You can't do any more than that. You will not stress if your Christmas tree sugar cookies look like moldy green pizza slices. You will not set your alarm clock for 2 am so that you can play Santa to your 20 something year old children. You will not wrap 237 gifts in a 2 day period. You will not go into a sugar coma, because you ate the left over Christmas tree sugar cookie dough when you were too tired to make dinner.
This is what you will do. Make some damn cookies. Who cares what they look like? They are going to be digested. I promise they won't look like Christmas trees then. You will rest. You will sleep. You will take care of yourself. You will wrap gifts simply and elegantly. Try butcher paper with a bit of string. You will eat and be healthy. My beautiful witch doctor brought me some kefir. I shall start drinking it tomorrow and report back to you. Check out the resources page for information on the benefits of this wonder food.
Until then, enjoy your tribe, your people, your loved ones, my wonderful readers! And remember . . . RELAX! This season is supposed to be fun.