Rituals are the stuff of childhood memories. And it’s becoming more and more clear that rituals help kids not only build memories, but also feel secure, provide a sense of control and create connections as part of a family unit. Naturally, I want to establish family traditions that will build these memories for my kids (not to mention their dad and me). And since I work part-time, I feel like I should have enough time and flexibility in my schedule to really make a big deal out of each holiday.
I’m lucky to be able to attend the occasional party in the classroom or bring homemade cookies to the bake sale. But why is it that when a holiday like Halloween rolls around, I feel compelled to turn into Martha Stewart, combing Pinterest for holiday treats, crafts and decorations? Last week I baked and helped my kids decorate two cakes for the fall carnival, decorated two “literary pumpkins,” created two costumes (one that required me to actually visit a fabric store and two different craft stores – and that was before I got out my sewing machine). Yesterday I baked Halloween cupcakes for our end-of-season soccer celebration and chaperoned a trip to the pumpkin patch. And let’s not forget decorating the outside of our house and collecting an assortment of Halloween-themed activity books so my kids can complete a word search for “goblin” and “Halloween.” Halloween is two days away and I’ve still got to finish one costume, help the kids make our jack-o-lanterns and plan our “holiday breakfast.” I realize that I don’t go to an office and I don’t log forty hours of work each week, but what compels me to become Super Holiday Mom for every holiday? And if this is kindergarten, what will happen by 4th grade?
I promise I don’t spend a lot of time dreaming about how to develop elaborate rituals and memories for my kids each time a holiday rolls around, but I seem to just keep adding to my list and taking on more and more as the day gets closer. I mean, one more commitment won’t take much, right? As a result, I’m scrambling to get dinner on the table these days. It’s too late for Halloween, but as we move into the busiest holiday season of the year, I’m going to try and keep life balance coach, Renee Trudeau’s, personal mantra in mind: “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”
What about you? Do you feel yourself saying yes more than you perhaps should – because you don’t work full-time? Let us know in the comments! And now I’m off to decorate those cupcakes!
