Holiday Expectations

As the holidays approach, I find myself wondering how I'm going to accomplish all I expect of myself. I expect to have perfect presents under the tree for an astounding number of people who will be visiting from out of town, besides the usual round of gifts for my children, immediate family, close friends and significant others, such as teachers, school staff, hair dressers, manicurist, etc. Added to the gift buying frenzy are countless trips to the grocery and food specialty stores for the feasts I expect to prepare, again for countless people I am expected to entertain during these holidays.

What's one person to do when it becomes overwhelming and seems there's never going to be enough time, resources or energy to cope? Well, I'm not sure I have the answer. What I'm longing to do is escape to an undisclosed location (me and Dick Cheney) to save my sanity, health and well-being. Naturally, this isn't an option ? I hold the holidays too dear and my daughters have come to expect huge fanfare on these special days. I have set up their expectations of me, just as I have set up the expectations of myself that I might not be able to pull off this year due to an unstable health condition and subsequent lack of mobility I've taken for granted in years past. Mostly, I just want to be able to get it all done, as I have every other year, which is no longer an option. I am left to ponder my upcoming fate with the dread of not performing or of falling short.

I suspect the "expectations" will somehow be met, only because I couldn't bear to let my children down during the most important season for meeting expectations. And I have set myself up for all of this, gladly, willingly, never expecting "ill health" to interfere with our rituals and festivities. Never mind that this health condition was caused primarily by trying to cram five weeks worth of expectations into a ten day period when I over-booked myself with work, volunteering at my children's schools at the same time I was expected to take care of many other obligations and promises to family and friends. I think the lesson here is to relinquish the expectations of myself and scale down to a more manageable holiday routine, like it or not.

Alas, there will come a time when we parents are no longer able to perform the myriad duties and routines we've created for our families, for any number of reasons, and we will need to give up control of making sure everyone's holiday expectations are met. This could come in the form of a health crisis, monetary crisis, time-crunch crisis ? take your pick. This is the time to delegate the responsibility of the be-all, do-all parent and shift our focus to relishing time with family and friends more so than relishing the accomplishments of others and our own expectations of us.

We are in the midst of a joyous and sacred time of year when our hearts and minds should be filled with love and good will, not with a frenzy of get-it-done anxiety.

I wish you all a joyful, relaxed holiday season, filled with love and happiness. Give yourselves a break and allow one or more of the details to slip by or delegate if need be. Being there for your family in sound mind, body and spirit is ultimately more important.

I have found that doing my Christmas shopping online is a lifesaver and any other task I can accomplish online is equally gratifying. Find ways to make your life a little easier during the busy days ahead.

Copyright ? 2004-2005 - Rexanne Mancini

Rexanne Mancini is the mother of two daughters, Justice and Liberty. She is a novelist, freelance writer and maintains an extensive yet informal parenting and family web site, Rexanne.com ? http://www.rexanne.com -Visit her site for good advice, award-winning Internet holiday pages and some humor to help you cope. Subscribe to her free newsletter, Rexanne's Web Review, for a monthly dose of Rexanne: http://www.rexanne.com/rwr-archives.html

---

Google News Updated : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:49:35 GMT IMF Urges Coordinated Action, Sees US Losses at $1.4 Trillion - Wall Street Journal BBC News IMF Urges Coordinated Action, Sees US Losses at $1.4 Trillion Wall Street Journal - 1 hour ago By TOM BARKLEY WASHINGTON -- With losses on bad US assets alone expected to top $1.4 trillion, the International Monetary Fund urged global policy makers Tuesday to coordinate a response to an unprecedented financial crisis that continues to spread. IMF warns of deeper slowdown amid crisis Reuters IMF in 'severe downturn' warning BBC News ABS CBN News - AFP - International Monetary Fund - Times Online all 383 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:21:55 GMT Kenya Detains US Author Critical of Obama - New York Times Malaysia Star Kenya Detains US Author Critical of Obama New York Times - 1 hour ago By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN NAIROBI, Kenya - The American author of a best-selling book highly critical of Senator Barack Obama was detained by Kenyan immigration agents on Tuesday as he prepared to give a press conference in Nairobi. Kenya Detains Author of Anti-Obama Book Voice of America US anti-Obama book author faces Kenya deportation: officials AFP The Associated Press - CNN International - CollegeOTR - Right Pundits all 351 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:00:27 GMT Police say Kentucky woman kills self, daughters - Forbes WNCT Police say Kentucky woman kills self, daughters Forbes - 1 hour ago AP 10.07.08, 9:30 AM ET Police were still trying to determine Tuesday why a Louisville woman apparently stabbed her two school-age daughters to death and then shot herself. Police say Kentucky woman kills self, daughters The Daily Advance Police say Louisville woman kills self, daughters KVOA.com The Associated Press - AHN - Louisville Courier-Journal - WLKY all 282 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:38:46 GMT OTC Cold Medicines to Be Relabeled for Young Children - Wall Street Journal ChattahBox OTC Cold Medicines to Be Relabeled for Young Children Wall Street Journal - 33 minutes ago By JENNIFER CORBETT DOOREN WASHINGTON -- Companies making over-the-counter cold and cough medicines have agreed to stop marketing the products to children younger than 4 as part of an effort to reduce accidental overdoses, an industry trade group said ... Video: Cold Meds Under Fire, Again CBS ALERT: Drug Companies Warning to Parents WXYZ SYS-CON Media - Washington Post - WebMD - Bloomberg all 850 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:15:50 GMT Senator Warned a Friend That Jail Was a Risk - New York Times New York Times Senator Warned a Friend That Jail Was a Risk New York Times - 2 hours ago By NEIL A. LEWIS WASHINGTON - The day after the FBI confronted Bill Allen, an Alaska oil services millionaire, with evidence that he had tried to bribe state lawmakers, he reached out to Senator Ted Stevens by telephone to discuss how their ... Stevens unplugged: a defiant, salty health nut The Associated Press “I Love You, You Know,” and More Revelations from the Stevens Trial Wall Street Journal Blogs Anchorage Daily News (subscription) - Los Angeles Times - Bradenton Herald - CNN all 485 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:35:08 GMT Study: Using fan on sleeping baby reduces risk of SIDS - San Jose Mercury News ChattahBox Study: Using fan on sleeping baby reduces risk of SIDS San Jose Mercury News - 2 hours ago By Linda Goldston Ayde Gonzales's mother was surprised when she insisted that her newborn son must sleep on his back, not on his side. Fans May Reduce Babies' Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Bloomberg Fan in Room Seems to Cut Infants’ Risk of Crib Death New York Times Wall Street Journal - Chicago Sun-Times - eFluxMedia - U.S. News & World Report all 573 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:46:19 GMT McCain, Obama question each other's character in latest campaign ads - Baltimore Sun BBC News McCain, Obama question each other's character in latest campaign ads Baltimore Sun - 3 hours ago By Paul West | paul.west@baltsun.com Washington - The presidential contest turned increasingly nasty yesterday as Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain launched new personal attacks ahead of the second presidential debate. Video: AP Campaign Minute AssociatedPress The Note: McCain Brings Attack to Second Debate ABC News Los Angeles Times - New York Times - BBC News - Reuters all 4,527 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:47:50 GMT RSS For Web Pages More Web Site Traffic

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

The History of Christmas Ornaments

History of OrnamentsIn A.D. 336, an early Roman calendar first... Read More

Christmas Gifts For Bird Lovers

Choosing gifts for any animal lovers can be quite a... Read More

Nine Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Head To The Office Party

One thing you can count on during the holiday season... Read More

It?s Time to Start Thinking about Mothers Day

Mother's Day is approaching fast. This year it falls on... Read More

The History of Teddy Bears

Teddy bears have been around since 1902. The teddy bear... Read More

10 Great Gift Ideas for Fathers Day

What do you get for the man who has always... Read More

Aran... Where the Sweaters Come From

Aran Sweaters. The Aran sweater takes its name from the... Read More

Create a Holiday Feast For The Senses

This is my daughter's first Christmas. Naomi will be nearly... Read More

Top Ten Things To Do The Day After Valentines Day

Why should February 14th get all of the attention?1. Water... Read More

Dont Want Another Carpet Sweeper This Year For Christmas?

Unique "Drop-A-Hint" Plan Sends Your Gift Wishes Via E-mailSure, they... Read More

Legends of the Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree is a much loved symbol iinstantly calling... Read More

New Years Resolutions

Ah, the start of another year! In a groggy haze... Read More

Christmas Shopping Online Might Or Might Not Be For Everyone: This Article Shows How Doing It Onlin

Christmas shopping online is not for you? If you are... Read More

Thanksgiving Memories

Turkey ... Stuffing ... Cranberry Sauce ... Pumpkin PieThis is... Read More

Anniversary Gift Ideas Year by Year, the First Nineteen Years

It's impossible to remember what gift is traditional for each... Read More

7 Tips For Defusing Holiday Stress

KNOW THYSELFThe first key to creating a peaceful holiday season... Read More

Mother?s Day Crafts

Make these quick and easy crafts with your children for... Read More

Are You Truly Thankful For Everything?

Thanksgiving is the time of year when we stop and... Read More

St. Patricks Day Quotations

"It's not that the Irish are cynical. It's rather that... Read More

Christmas Matters

Every year I vow to make Christmas easier, simpler -... Read More

Birthday Flowers

Birthdays are one thing you can count on. We all... Read More

Honor Mothers: Song Remembers Mom Forever

In the spirit of Mother's Day, two songwriters are sharing... Read More

Christmas Gifts For Dog Lovers

Let's admit it, the US and UK are both countries... Read More

Kids Birthdays - How to Throw an Unforgettable Kids Birthday Party

Kids take their birthdays very seriously, and are extremely disappointed... Read More

Gift Giving During Thanksgiving Adds That Special Touch

Many of us believe Christmas is one of the most... Read More