Okay, so I am finally making it downstairs to my computer (it's almost 2:00 in the afternoon) although I have been thinking about getting down here all morning. We had major issues with our basement after the big rainfall months ago and we still have not gotten around to doing what is necessary to make it so that our children can be down here. (Long story that I will choose not to tell right now.) The only reason I am here right now is because of a friend of mine. Julia is a sixth grader. I met her at our church when she was in 2nd or 3rd grade and I was the children's pastor at VNC. Since then, I have become friends with her family, and have been blessed by my relationship with them a million times over. She is home schooled this year, and her mother offered to have her come over once a week, or so, and help me by watching the children or helping clean the house. Did your eyes just get big? :) Of course, I jumped all over it.
Okay, so here's my "Works for Me" this week. As soon as I am done with this post I plan to go to the other side of our basement and wrap the Christmas gifts on a card table. I went out and bought all the wrapping paper, scotch tape, ribbon, etc. last night, so it's all set to go.
*Side note** 3 Roll pack scotch tape normally $4.50 at Walgreens. This week 2/$2 and you can send in for a rebate for $2, making them free.**
What is "working for me" this year is to have a dear friend watch my children while I wrap presents so that tonight I can actually hang out with my husband...unfortunately the hubster and I will be working on the basement. ;)
I know what you are thinking...LAME POST! Does she think that every mom has a teenage friend that would come watch the children for free? To answer my own rhetorical question: No, I don't. But, what might work for you is to swap nights (or days) with a friend, watching each others' children, so that both of you can wrap presents...or if you have not gotten presents already, so you can get to the store to buy them. Use your directory that you got in MOPS if you are drawing a blank on who to ask. We're all in this together, mommas. So, branch out and be there for each other. If you are looking for an extra way to connect with another mom, this might be a perfect opportunity. Can I just remind you that you are doing a great job? Mom of a preschooler, you are doing a great job.
Comments (4)
This is so appropriate, because I wrapped all my presents today. Well, not for the girls - that I will have to do at night, but everyone else is done and I am done shopping! Yippee! What worked for me is that I let them help me. I actually am babysitting today too, so I have four kids, ages almost 1, almost 2, 3 1/2 and 5. (They are all napping or having quiet time right now - how nice is that?). I let the 3 1/2 year old and the five year old help me to tape all the presents and to then place them under the tree. The little ones, I gave them some left over pieces of paper and some of our toys and asked them to wrap them up. They had a blast and everything is done. Good luck with all the Christmas craziness everyone. Just try to remember what the season is really about. Happy Holidays!
Posted by Mindi | December 10, 2008 3:08 PM
Posted on December 10, 2008 15:08
I try to wrap presents a day or two after I buy them. I only have one kid though, so I get to do it while she naps. The feeling I get from having wrapped gifts goes beyond stress reduction. I feel like a put-together, on-top-of-my-game over-achiever.
For those of you that have kids that don't nap at the same time or a free sitter on call, feel free to ask me to watch your little ones for a couple of hours. I live in Portage, so it might be a drive for some of you. I'm in the directory. Give me a jingle.
Posted by Jan | December 11, 2008 12:50 PM
Posted on December 11, 2008 12:50
I guess I am lucky, as of right now my two nap around the same time, there is at least a bit overlapping. So i am blessed with a little chore/free time.
Posted by MacnMya'smom06 | December 12, 2008 9:09 PM
Posted on December 12, 2008 21:09
I don't wrap all the presents. If Santa visits your house then you can leave some of those gifts unwrapped if it is obvious who the gift is for. For example my 8 year old does not play with diego so he knows that is for his little brother. A few less gifts to wrap make me feel a little better. I don't wrap all the gifts at the same time. I try to get a few done at a time. I've made a list of what I've wrapped so that I don't forget. I need to double check to make sure that I got my boys the same amount.
I would just like to say that we all are so blessed to live in a country where we have so much. We are in the land of milk and honey. I thank God for that. Merry Christmas everyone.
Posted by Melody | December 18, 2008 4:47 AM
Posted on December 18, 2008 04:47