My first thoughts for my word of the week this week revolved around busyness; lists, tasks, errands. I drafted a post about my frantic week getting organised for Christmas; tree, cards, presents.
Then I read a story that made me stop. Gave me a much needed dose of perspective and made me feel very grateful.
Earlier this week I wrote about some of the tough bits of being an expat at Christmas. About missing family and friends. About frustration at having to recreate those things that make ‘our’ Christmas; those things that I cannot buy here. About the desire for a perfect Christmas.
Of course I want to give my children a special Christmas, and I am lucky enough to be able to do so. They will have presents under the tree and wonderful food. They will be surrounded by love and magic.
But really, a perfect Christmas for us is one spent with family. Anything else is a bonus.
So, while I will continue with my lists and plans and organisation, because I still have a lot to do, I will not get hung up on creating the perfect Christmas. I will stop stressing about the details.
I will enjoy it, whether I get round to making mince pies or not. I will have fun with my children, whether I manage to bake a Christmas cake or not. I will smile as they open their presents and join them in their excitement, whether Christmas cards get to the UK on Christmas Eve or New Years Eve.
We will have a fun and laughter filled Christmas; and I will do my best to remain calm and stress-free (I can hear my husband laugh now), because that is the biggest present I can give my family.
How has your week been, what would your word of the week be?
Lovely post and you are right, it’s about family time, being together and happy with what you have together. #WoTW
Thank you Karen x
Oh, so that post you linked to made me cry! You are spot on with grateful, and I do hope you manage to have a stress-free Christmas (how shocked would it make your husband?!). I just want to see my kids’ happily opening their presents and spending some fun time together. And there will be no baking here…! Thanks for sharing with #WotW
It made me cry too, and it really was something I needed to read this week. I’m really looking forward to spending some time together with no school or work to get in the way x
We put so much pressure on ourselves to create the perfect Christmas that we can sometimes overlook the real importance of just being together and safe and warm and fed. That is a lot to be grateful for. You know what though, despite knowing that, I will still run around like a headless chicken in the big day trying to clean up the wrapping paper x
I know what you mean, so do I! I’m making a concerted effort not to this year x
It must be tough not being near your family at Christmas. But at least you’re all together and like you say you’ll be able to watch them open their presents and get excited about all the new things! It’s good to stop and be grateful sometimes, this time of year it’s easy to forget how lucky we are. #WotW
It is, isn’t it, when we get so caught up in creating that ‘perfect’ Christmas x
A lovely post Sara and a great reminder to be grateful for what we have. After my mum was seriously ill a few Christmases ago I’ve learnt to be a lot less stressed over everything. That year we celebrated in a fashion and I was just grateful that mum was still with us, nothing else mattered.
Happy holidays to you and the family x
That’s it really, isn’t it. The ‘stuff’ is lovely, but it really doesn’t matter x
Such a positive post =) #wotw
Thank you Merlinda x
Really pleased to hear that you’re feeling better about it all now lovely. The magic of Xmas is Defintely in the quality family time for us xxx
Absolutely Renee, that’s what it’s all about x
Great word and lovely post! I hope you have the best Christmas x
Thank you Kim x
That’s a brilliant word for the week and I loved the post you linked to too – really does make you stop and put everything into perspective and be grateful for what you do have. I hope that you will all have the perfect Christmas, just by being together and enjoying quality time with your beautiful family x
Thank you Louise, I am really looking forward to it x
That’s a great word (sorry pun not intended) and something we should all remember, and that story brought a tear to my eye too #wotw
Thank you Stephanie x