November 2010 – A Half Hour a Day

This season I’m focusing on what really matters. I always think I am doing just that, but I’m not. The days leading up to Wednesday when Zan’s Sister’s Family arrives for an extended stay, and preparations for the Big Feast on Thursday are usually in full swing are typically hectic to say the least. Shopping and cleaning, and cooking and cleaning, and cleaning and cleaning, are the things that take up my time.

But really, why am I cleaning like a madwoman? My home is generally clean…enough. I keep up with the dust bunnies, I vacuum and dust my living room daily, I change my beds weekly, and keep my kitchen and bathrooms functional and sanitary. So really, why do I feel the compulsive need to wash curtains, wash floors that will be tracked through by a dozens of beloved feet, wash windows and get rid of every stitch of clutter before anyone comes? They don’t care. They come to spend time with us, not to inspect my corners.

So this season, instead of washing windows, I will spend the time visiting my Grandmother in the Nursing Home. Instead of washing floors, I will go shopping, have dinner and watch a movie with my Daughter. Instead of scrubbing woodwork and cabinets, I will go visit my Aunt and finally give her that Rosary bracelet that has been sitting on a shelf waiting for her. I will play games and read books with my Son when he asks instead of saying, “Mommy just has three more things to do, then I will play.” I will have a pre-Thanksgiving dinner with my Parents and Sister’s Family on Monday night instead of creating last minute shopping lists and panicking about what has to be done on Tuesday. I will play a game of Scrabble with my husband instead of folding laundry. I will bake with my younger daughter, instead of insisting I do it myself to save time. I will at least have coffee and a quick visit with my dear friend Anywho even if I am cooking stuffing while we chat. And after the Big Feast, I will lunch and shop with my Sister-in-Law on Black Friday and get caught up in the exhilaration of the season (avoiding the chaos of the malls) instead of avoiding it to watch over the kids like I usually do. There are others, and I will get to them soon.

If I leave this world tomorrow, I don’t want any regrets. Who do I want to see, touch, talk to??? They are who I am thankful for. That is the focus of this holiday season. The dust bunnies can wait.

Little Girl’s Assignment:

Build a longhouse or wigwam, using as many natural resources as possible.

She was determined not to use anything other than natural resources. If it was up to her, I don’t think she would have even used the hot glue to hold it all together. My girl is quite the literalist.

But no worries, the furs are fabric. Zan suggested skinning some roadkill, but for some reason, she didn’t like that idea. Back when he and Big Girl built her longhouse four years ago, some stuffed animals were sacrificed for the project. This caused an emotional crisis of mass proportion when both girls found out where the “fur” had come from. They still get teary eyed when it’s mentioned. I made him swear to let me take care of the supplies for that portion of the project this time. 🙂