Carlee & Carl enjoying the view from our Christmas tree.
Yes, my sock monkeys have clothes on. The tutu that Carlee is wearing & the overalls that Carl are wearing were handmade by yours truly. I did not make the leather bomber jacket that Carlee is wearing (she mugged an elf on the shelf for it, because I couldn't find anything small enough to make her a coconut bra).
I'm gonna go ahead & write this as if it's my last post of the year, as it most likely will be. You see the last month or so has really worn me down & I just don't know when I'll get my groove back (or anyone else's for that matter).
So, a few things I learned/realized this year....
1) I do not have the emotional capability to write another post on Lessons from a fire, so I'll give you this little bit of advice...invest in Rubbermaid (or Sterilite) containers. Seriously, the fire melted a metal can of hairspray onto my grandmother's sewing table, but the Rubbermaid bin of photos underneath it was not lost. The photos mostly had smoke damage & out of hundreds, I think I lost a dozen at most.
2) Having an eighteen year old child only adds to the worry & stress. Because now you can't help but worry that they'll do something stupid or irresponsible just because they legally can. Like get a tattoo without you.
3) Fourteen year olds are still cute & adorable, until they wake up & the teenager in them takes over. Even if they want to be nice to you, it is hormonally impossible for them (about 90% of the time). Try not to take it personally.
4) People never stop changing; even those who don't. What I mean is, even the most set in their ways folks still undergo personality changes. It is inevitable, it is unavoidable (I know, pretty much the same thing, that's my point), it is natural. Our likes & dislikes change when we're not even watching. Just go with it & make the best of it with what you have.
5) Sometimes it's okay to freak out. We all need to every once in awhile. It is a necessary emotional response to all kinds of things. So please, please, please don't judge those who do; they are just trying to process their feelings & reconcile them with what their brain is telling them. It ain't easy having thoughts & emotions, ever.
6) Man I like lists. Well, maybe not as much as some folks, but I do like 'em. They are almost cathartic sometimes. Try listing something, like the order you'd try the flavors of jelly/jams/preserves at your favorite breakfast place if that was the only thing you had to do. Kinda fun sometimes right?
So, a few things I learned/realized this year....
1) I do not have the emotional capability to write another post on Lessons from a fire, so I'll give you this little bit of advice...invest in Rubbermaid (or Sterilite) containers. Seriously, the fire melted a metal can of hairspray onto my grandmother's sewing table, but the Rubbermaid bin of photos underneath it was not lost. The photos mostly had smoke damage & out of hundreds, I think I lost a dozen at most.
2) Having an eighteen year old child only adds to the worry & stress. Because now you can't help but worry that they'll do something stupid or irresponsible just because they legally can. Like get a tattoo without you.
3) Fourteen year olds are still cute & adorable, until they wake up & the teenager in them takes over. Even if they want to be nice to you, it is hormonally impossible for them (about 90% of the time). Try not to take it personally.
4) People never stop changing; even those who don't. What I mean is, even the most set in their ways folks still undergo personality changes. It is inevitable, it is unavoidable (I know, pretty much the same thing, that's my point), it is natural. Our likes & dislikes change when we're not even watching. Just go with it & make the best of it with what you have.
5) Sometimes it's okay to freak out. We all need to every once in awhile. It is a necessary emotional response to all kinds of things. So please, please, please don't judge those who do; they are just trying to process their feelings & reconcile them with what their brain is telling them. It ain't easy having thoughts & emotions, ever.
6) Man I like lists. Well, maybe not as much as some folks, but I do like 'em. They are almost cathartic sometimes. Try listing something, like the order you'd try the flavors of jelly/jams/preserves at your favorite breakfast place if that was the only thing you had to do. Kinda fun sometimes right?
Welcome to Winter Island...
Anyway, like I said this last month or so has really gotten me down. I hate this part of the holidays, but more than anything I need to be able to feel sad about things this time of year (like the loved ones not with us or the happiest memories from my childhood) without feeling guilty.
A lot of you know what I'm talking about. You want/need to be sad, but there are "other people counting on you" to make sure their holidays are awesome. There are people who expect you to be the one to get excited about decorating when really you don't really want to go through all the work & chaos of unpacking everything & setting it up for a few weeks, only to have to take it all down, pack it back up & try to remember how it was all stored so that your house was still functional. You're the only reason holiday cards get sent & it something you truly enjoy & believe in doing, but sometimes you just wish someone else would write the letter or sign the cards. And don't even get me started on the demands for holiday baking.
I think my point, is that this time of year (according to statistics I've not personally read, but which are quoted over & over again) has a higher suicide rate for a reason. It isn't just the lonely or depressed people that get sad, the so called "normal" ones get sad too. And that's okay.
Let's all try to take this last week of 2015 to slow down & just enjoy being. Let's decompress from all the holiday stress & spend some nothing time with those we love; no presents, no big party or meal pressure, just quality hanging out. Like we did before cell phones, video games, VCR's even. You know, back when all we had was a wheel & some sticks to make a fire?
I think I'll start now.
Sending you all my love darlings & wishing you a peaceful end to 2015 & an healthy, happy, love filled 2016.
Aloha hugs,
-Clare
A lot of you know what I'm talking about. You want/need to be sad, but there are "other people counting on you" to make sure their holidays are awesome. There are people who expect you to be the one to get excited about decorating when really you don't really want to go through all the work & chaos of unpacking everything & setting it up for a few weeks, only to have to take it all down, pack it back up & try to remember how it was all stored so that your house was still functional. You're the only reason holiday cards get sent & it something you truly enjoy & believe in doing, but sometimes you just wish someone else would write the letter or sign the cards. And don't even get me started on the demands for holiday baking.
I think my point, is that this time of year (according to statistics I've not personally read, but which are quoted over & over again) has a higher suicide rate for a reason. It isn't just the lonely or depressed people that get sad, the so called "normal" ones get sad too. And that's okay.
Let's all try to take this last week of 2015 to slow down & just enjoy being. Let's decompress from all the holiday stress & spend some nothing time with those we love; no presents, no big party or meal pressure, just quality hanging out. Like we did before cell phones, video games, VCR's even. You know, back when all we had was a wheel & some sticks to make a fire?
I think I'll start now.
Sending you all my love darlings & wishing you a peaceful end to 2015 & an healthy, happy, love filled 2016.
Aloha hugs,
-Clare
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