1.)This has been a big week for hosting/gatherings. We had a feast of the seven fishes party (biggest hits were the tuna pasta & whole ocean white fish), and the next night we had another family over to celebrate Hanukkah with brisket, latkes, and dreidel! Then, this weekend, we are also going to a Hanukkah party at the youth rabbi’s house on Saturday, and a family Christmas party on Sunday. This is a lot for one week, but I think it will be a fun and memorable week and after lots of quieter holiday years, I’m kind of loving all the time to connect and celebrate!
2.) This week A had her winter performance. It was cute to see her pantomiming being a bunny in “The Four Seasons,” and doing a moon phases dance. I like that the music teacher is so creative about incorporating what they are learning about in science, and she had a fun time performing on stage at school for the first time.
3.) For Hanukkah, A got a rainbow loom and has been busy making bracelets for me, her sister, Santa (?), Nonna, and her teacher. It’s nice to see her so absorbed in making things, and it’s been a cozy addition to the week to see her curled up next to the tree immersed in making gifts for others.
4.) Perhaps not surprisingly given the big events and extra holiday tasks, this morning was rough. We were running late to school after finishing decorating teacher cards, which I then forgot on the counter. After dropping off my older child, we swung back home to grab the cards. As I was rushing to get my youngest to preschool, I ended up scratching the car by trying to park too fast. The dumb, preventable mistake coupled with how overwhelmed I felt and how hard I was on myself made me realize that I didn’t have as much margin as I’d thought. Letting go of my to-do list a bit today and realizing that I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to finish up all the holiday to-dos before school gets out this afternoon. Gifts can be wrapped after the kids go to bed, I can do the errands tomorrow, and all the chores I don’t get to today will still be there later. Prioritizing meditating, exercising, and snuggling my kids and watching a movie this afternoon when their winter break starts!
5.) This week I’m thinking a lot about the Ezra Klein episode on GiveWell. I’m familiar with the organization because I have a good friend from high school who works there, but if you don’t know them, it’s an organization that evaluates the effectiveness of various nonprofits, particularly public health projects overseas. I don’t 100% agree with effective altruism’s philosophy, but I do think it’s an interesting lens and consideration to add to giving. It's a good listen if you’re curious about how cuts to foreign aid are affecting philanthropy, and how much more of an obligation you have to local community vs. people whose lives you will never intersect with. Definitely good food for thought as you think about end-of-year giving if that’s something you do, and a good listen during times of heavy news stories (which it feels like is almost all of the time).
This year, is your festive season full of big events, or quieter celebrations? Which do you generally prefer? Do you also find it harder to forgive your own mistakes, especially when you’re stressed? Do you prefer to give at the end of the year, or throughout the year? How do you think about giving locally vs. globally?
Wow, you really do have a lot of festive activities going on! It sounds like a lot of fun, but busy. I much prefer cozying up at home with my immediate family and doing quiet, indoor activities. But I could see how parties and dinners would make the season feel extra celebratory.
ReplyDeleteA bracelet for Santa! Adorable!
Ugh -- so sorry about the car scratch. We got to school late this morning, too, and did the whole scramble with multiple teacher gifts as well, so I can imagine what you were going through. Mornings can be chaotic enough without adding in Christmas stuff.
I tend to give more to local organizations. It's not so much a philosophical choice, it just feels like there's an endless number of options and it's "easier" in some ways to support organizations that I know and whose work I can see directly.
I often do prefer cozying up at home, but maybe I feel nostalgia from the big family Christmas celebrations from childhood? I'm not sure. I think next year I may want to space out hosting a bit more. I may start writing a note to self email on holiday things I want to remember for next year.
DeleteWhat a busy busy week you had! I'm glad you were able to take a breath after scratching the car. I know exactly that feeling that you just WANT TO GET IT DONE, and the pressure, and it can be overwhelming. I just read a book that I'm evangelizing about and it's called The Relaxed Woman, all about taking rest and caring for ourselves. I don't want to give you another to-do - your list is long! - but if you get a chance I think you would get a lot out of it.
ReplyDeleteI love when kids get really into crafts, your daughter's bracelet is very cute.
It's so hard to choose where to put your money, in terms of giving. I try to do things locally, not because it's better but because I can sort of see where it goes? I don't know, there are just so many things and it's a difficult choice.
I love reading, so books rarely feel like a difficult to-do to add on. I'll check it out! I also book evangelize :)
DeleteOh gosh I can so relate to the car scratch incident. It is so something I would do. It’s tough to have so little margin and dash from one thing to another.
ReplyDeleteI need to listen to that Ezra episode. I just got a letter from United Way about how the tax policy for charitable donations is changing next year and it made my head spin a bit, especially since my husband doesn’t do our taxes. Overall it does not sound like a positive change for charitable organizations…
I feel better about it now--but I was so mad at myself and definitely overreacted.
DeleteWhat a coincidence about that Ezra Klein episode! My step-mom’s newish beau, his daughter is the boss that they talked to a bit. It sounds like a really difficult job, quantifying and prioritizing when the need is so great for so many.
ReplyDeleteI divide my donations. Some I give to organizations like MSF, Oxfam, and Heifer Project. Some I give to Planned Parenthood and ACLU. Some I give to our local food bank, a local NPR/PBS station, and our local Meals on Wheels. That sounds like I give a lot, these are all small local monthly donations.
I’m sorry that you scratched the car, and that you were hard on yourself about it, but glad that you got the message to slow down in the end. I think the message of winter is to slow down and turn inward a bit, but we tend to do the opposite.
Preschool parking lots are a beast because evryone is trying to maximize those 3 precious hours-- I have been there!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a pretty hectic pre-holiday season, but with a lot of fun events, too. I feel like it's always a bit of both - a lot of fun, but also a lot, especially for parents (which I am not, but I can imagine!).
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