Real Life Mama: Post-Christmas refresh

Is it just me, or is January the worst month of the year? It’s like we just came off of the holiday high and then boom, jump into a long month full of crappy weather (although this week wasn’t too bad) and driving home from work in the dark with nothing to look forward to.

Look, I realize that I was driving home in the dark in December as well – but I knew how much I had to get ready for yet and all the fun that was coming on Christmas morning, so I seemed to ignore it. It wasn’t until all of that passed that I actually realized just how gloomy it is out there. And that directly affects my mood – if and when I let it.

To top it all off, my kiddos – whom had been bouncing off the walls schedule-free for 2 weeks, had to magically snap back into the school routine. If I am being honest, after the chaos of the break, I am ready for that part to be back to normal; it is just the getting there that is painful.

Speaking of the “break,” I want to reiterate that the holidays are NOT a break for parents of young kids. On the contrary, it is supposed to the be the most magical time of the year, so we dive in head first to make it just that and utterly exhaust ourselves.

From all of the extra hours shopping to decorating and baking holiday treats to wrapping, it is a lot. I literally walk into January worn out and ready for an actual break more than ever – except now I have no freebie days off at work until well, actual vacation. Which, by the way, seems so far away.

Many of us still had to work a lot of the break – and you add on kiddos at home, which means an unending mess and double the trips to the grocery, which is just great because you just spent a ton on Christmas presents. Seriously, by the end of the break, I found myself completely over the multiple cleanings of the house per week and even snapping at my girls over petty things because I was more than overwhelmed at everything.

Which of course leads to the mom guilt. That first day back to the office in January – also the girls’ first day back to school -I found myself drowning in the guilt of the times I yelled over break. I could have handled this differently. I should have done that instead. All day long, all I thought about was how I couldn’t wait to see them that night and apologize. I even planned a special hour with just Maylie to sit, say I was sorry and snuggle.

This led to My Maylie quickly forgiving me (isn’t the love of a child amazing) and reminding me that we all make mistakes, that she was still going to make them as a kid and that we just have to try harder next time. I am pretty sure she quoted me on that. Ha!

And while I dislike January and the gloominess that it brings, she didn’t even know that she reminded me how January is also our chance to start over. Sure, sometimes starting over seems overwhelmingly long and dark (like the month of January), but that is usually how the beginning goes.

Christine Caine said it best, “Sometimes when you are in a dark place, you think you have been buried, but you’ve actually been planted. Bloom.”

So, if you are feeling like me this time of the year, I invite you to take a step back and relax for a few moments. Look at your surroundings – what you were able to provide for your family this Holiday season and all the good things up ahead. Take a few extra breaks for yourself these next few weeks – those resolutions can wait.

Take care of yourself. Be proud of yourself. And rest.

Sure, these next few weeks may seem a bit tough and overwhelming. But as I keep telling myself, you will get through them – just like you did every other January. And when it seems like it is a little extra dark around you, don’t forget that you haven’t been buried, you have been planted.

So, bring on the rest of January and get out there and bloom.

Sarah (Pitson) Shrader was born and raised in Lima. She is a Lima Central Catholic and Tiffin University graduate. Sarah is a full-time working mama who enjoys writing about her somewhat crazy, always adventurous life as a mother. She lives in Bath Township with her daughters and writing inspirations, Maylie and Reagan.