September 22, 2009
serenity now!
Every so often, the lovely people at Oklahoma Magazine ask if I would like to write a wee column for them, for their Last Thing feature. I always say yes, because they’re so nice, and because what else do I have to do, right?
Uh, right.
I have a piece due tomorrow, for the November issue; it’s about how I manage the stress of the holidays — cooking and shopping and entertaining. So far, all I’ve come up with is buy more booze. Oh and possibly, run away to Tahiti.
I’m not sure that’s what they want.
I woke up this morning with a stress headache that started somewhere around the right side of my jaw and then settled behind my ear, precisely where my glasses sit, for the entire day. I’ve taken so much ibuprofen that I fully expect my liver to just give up and stop functioning at any moment, and also to possibly just fall on the floor waving a white flag. And yet! My head still hurts.
I have no idea what the strategy is for handling the stress of the holidays. Last year, I spent most of November and December getting up at four am to work, because I couldn’t jam my 10 hours of work into a seven hour school day, and of course waking up at four meant I was falling into bed at eight. Good times.
Also, not good stress management. Ouch, my head hurts.
Today I tried making a list (you know, like I used to tell my writing students to do) and I came up with useful things like eat healthy food and drink more water and get enough sleep.
Yeah, none of that is going to happen, unless coffee and Luna bars count as water and good food. Also, that would be the most boring column ever in the history of columns.
So then I came up with things like have regular manicures! and buy fresh flowers! and make coffee dates with friends! and I fell over laughing because when am I going to do all that? Four am?
Sheesh.
Tonight Charlie came downstairs, to ask someone, anyone, to snuggle with him; Wade was watching a documentary on PBS about stress. “Do you ever get stressed?” he asked me. Wade laughed. “Yes,” I said. “Does Daddy ever get stressed?”
“Yes.”
“What about Henry?”
“Charlie,” I said, “I think you’re the only person in this house who does not get stressed.”
“Is that good?” he asked.
“Yes,” I told him. “It is.”
“Will you come snuggle with me?” he said. And I did, because why not? My head already hurt, and it was just easier to lay down in a pile of stuffed puppies.
Posted by Susan @ 8:42 pm • everyday life
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September 22nd, 2009 at 8:53 pm, SoMo Says:
I hope you asked him what his secret is.
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:12 pm, Kim Yamaguchi Says:
I know Charlie’s secret! He’s 6! The most 6ish boy ever!
I think you found your holiday de-stressor Susan: Charlie and his stuffed animals
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:23 pm, Annika Says:
I think the pile of stuffed puppies is exactly what Oklahoma Magazine wants. Because everyone needs stuffed puppies.
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:48 pm, Tiffany Says:
I think “Stress-Free Holidays” is an oxymoron when you are the mom. Good luck with that article!
September 23rd, 2009 at 6:55 am, Susan Raihala Says:
I’d enjoy an article on stress that DID offer options like running off to Tahiti or cuddling a child in a pile of stuffed animals. That’s so much more realistic than getting 8 hours of shut-eye.
On a more serious note, one thing I have learned about the holidays is that less is more. Less decorating, less baking, less shopping (order online), less stuff in our entertaining (but more conversation).
I focus on MORE of only those things that make me happy, like my papercrafts and having coffee dates with friends at Barnes and Noble. Yes, I do make time for that!
We live in such a “more is more” society, but really, what do we need to make the holidays happy? Not nearly as much as commercials tell us.
Good luck with your article. Hope your headache is gone today.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:46 am, Sonnya Says:
Prime shopping at amazon.com makes holidays less stressful for me and also, let’s be honest…do we really need to so spend as much time as we do finding the “perfect” gift for each individual teacher/mailperson/etc? Or wouldn’t they all really rather have a Starbucks card…or Target or whatever.
Also, OUTSOURCE. I love sugar cookies but frankly to make awesomely decorated ones takes way too much time and patience and mess. I buy them. Peanut butter/chocolate chip/oatmeal etc are easy and I do those. If I hate doing something, I outsource it… and if I love doing something, even if time consuming, then I do it. Music helps also…sets the mood. And smells…I love changing my house scents to be “seasonal”.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:11 pm, Ani Says:
Simmering mulled-apple-cider spices in water and breathing in the scent. THAT makes my stress go away.
And, learning to say NO sometimes instead of over-promising and over-extending.
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:10 pm, The Coffee Lady Says:
Expect less.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:51 pm, margaret Says:
This will not help with holiday stress, but I think it might help with deadline stress:
You’ve already written that article. Reformat this hilarious post, and you’re done.
I’m serious. Do it.