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Email a FriendPosted by Carolyn A on Monday, Jan 4, 2010 5:11 PM (EDT):
Just one comment - Can I adopt your 10-year old daughter??
Resuming Routines, Grinding Gears
How's your transition going?
Posted by Danielle Bean in Just me on Monday, January 04, 2010 3:59 PM
Have you ever learned to drive a standard transmission? You know that horrible grating, grinding sound the gears make when you shift them incorrectly? I think I heard that sound today.
It was coming from my brain.
Like many others today, I am doing my very best to make a smooth move from the relaxed holiday schedule we have enjoyed the past two weeks to one that brings all of us back to school, back to work, and back to painful reality.
Ouch.
Here are a few thoughts for others who might be struggling with the same kinds of transitions this week:
1. Take it easy. Don’t expect perfection from yourself, your kids, your spouse, or your co-workers these first days back to reality. Cut people some slack anywhere you can. Being demanding will only lead to being chronically disappointed this week.
2. Still celebrate. As Rebecca has been so good at reminding us since the 25th, Christmas does last 12 days. Your whole family will feel less “let down” if you don’t rush to put away all things Christmas just yet. Light some candles, enjoy a movie together, or play some festive music.
3. Be grateful. Most of us are feeling drained today because we’ve managed to enjoy some happy times with friends and family over the Christmas break. The transition back to routine will feel less painful if you remember to give thanks to God for your many blessings.
4. Have your 10-year-old daughter do everything. Just kidding. Sort of. But I do want to publicly thank Juliette for cleaning the living room, washing the dishes, organizing the mudroom, and baking a fresh batch of muffins today—all without being asked and just when I was tempted to freak out.
How about you? How’s your transition going?
Comments
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Posted by Lina Martin on Tuesday, Jan 5, 2010 12:13 AM (EDT):
yes, how does one get on of these “ten year old daughters?” :-p
Posted by Wendy from Zoom on Monday, Jan 4, 2010 5:58 PM (EDT):
It went well as far as the kids were concerned. I scaled back my expectations a lot in terms of what I wanted the kids to do, and then I laid it all out at the breakfast table: what they needed to do and what they could do if they got it done. Now I’m ready to drop, but the kids are doing fine!
I live in a diocese where they did the Epiphany last Sunday, and I would just like to say I feel cheated of those extra two days of Christmas! Moved holy days, Bah, humbug!
Posted by Mom of 4 on Monday, Jan 4, 2010 5:59 PM (EDT):
Thanks for the reminder that we are still celebrating Christmas. So many people I know had their tree down faster than they had the wrapping paper cleaned up and I think I’ve enjoyed our decorations even more now that the stress of getting ready is over. Christmas blessings to you and your family.
Posted by Pam on Monday, Jan 4, 2010 6:01 PM (EDT):
Sounds good, Danielle! I actually left my children at home with a chore list with the 10 and 11 year old in charge. Everything looked great when I got back and they got to enjoy the new Wii for a bit and I got to shop by myself for groceries! Everyone won today! This stage in life- when I don’t have to do everything myself- is a bit different and I am going to enjoy every minute!
Now, excuse me, I think I will go watch TV with everyone for a while!
Merry Christmas!
Posted by Dawn Farias on Monday, Jan 4, 2010 7:00 PM (EDT):
Not going well here. Our house still looks like Christmas presents threw up all over the floors and I was looking forward to getting it cleaned today and doing school BUT I sprained my lower back last night. Sooo… asked husband to stay home today and made a trip to the chiro. Luckily, the x-ray showed no herniated discs or anything requiring surgery (which is what my Google-ing brain worried about at 4:30 this morning).
None of use feel 100% and already were suffering from cabin fever. Shan’t last forever and it makes you thankful for the days you are healthy. (I wouldn’t mind a ten-year old daughter with a domestic bent to her, though.)
Posted by Arwen Mosher on Monday, Jan 4, 2010 7:49 PM (EDT):
What I want to know, Danielle, is how I get my three-year-old to grow up into a ten-year-old like Juliette! Did you use any special tricks with her? I’d love to think I had such helpfulness to look forward to!
Posted by Danielle Bean on Tuesday, Jan 5, 2010 12:59 AM (EDT):
I think Juliette is just a “natural domestic.” She thrives on things like neatness, order, and homemaking. I do love that about her, but can’t take any real credit for it. Except that I do provide her ample opportunity to indulge her domestic side. 
Posted by laurajean on Monday, Jan 4, 2010 9:08 PM (EDT):
We’re going to go ahead and celebrate another week of Christmas, until the feast of the Baptism. Our oldest is still home from college, as are a few of the cousins, so I doubt my attempts to get back to homeschooling would get very far. We might go bowling or skating or something now that schools are back in session - we’ll have the places to ourselves!
Posted by Sarah in Ottawa on Monday, Jan 4, 2010 10:09 PM (EDT):
Today is a CRAZY day of transition for us; not only is my husband returning to work after a holiday break, I am heading back to work after a year long parental leave and our son is off to his caregiver. And I have strep throat to boot! Today went well, but boy - are we tired.
My expectations for this week are SUPER low. Dinners planned/some prep done in advance, everything packed the night before, early bedtime. I hope that once we’re in the swing of things, it’ll flow a bit better.
Posted by Lynn on Monday, Jan 4, 2010 11:14 PM (EDT):
We did okay, although we all felt a little sad that Christmas break has come to an end. Only once did I feel like losing it - when not one pair of kid’s shoes was in the hall shelf where they were supposed to be. Guess we got too relaxed the last two weeks.
Posted by Anne Lamansky on Tuesday, Jan 5, 2010 12:11 PM (EDT):
Love the driving analogy, Danielle. And I’m so glad to know there are so many others for whom the transition is challenging (sometimes it feels like everyone but you is “in the flow”),
Posted by claire on Tuesday, Jan 5, 2010 2:38 PM (EDT):
Our diocese also celebrated Epiphany on Sunday. However, they emphasized that Christmas isn’t over till Baptism of the Lord next Sunday. I would have left the Christmas decorations up another week, but my son’s birthday is on Friday, and I didn’t want his party decorations to have to compete with the Christmas decorations. It was definitely a letdown. But, my Christmas wasn’t exactly relaxing, so the transition isn’t as major for me.
Posted by Abra on Tuesday, Jan 5, 2010 3:11 PM (EDT):
Sunday evening I got all of the kids in bed early so they would be ready and not make the morning too awful. Monday came and everyone was brighteyed and bushy tailed. We had packed all the lunches and laid out clothes. We made a wonderful transition until Monday evening. My daughters informed me that they need a few last minute items for school. So in the chaos we forgot to lay our clothes out and forgot to make lunches. The kids went to be later than the night before. We were all sleepy and barely got out of bed to find we had a one hour delay!! I was so happy that we all decided to just lay down a few minutes and then get on with our jobs. Well, we all ended up over sleeping and no one went to school today!! I feel so horrible but we are in the process of getting ready for Wednesday! Lets hope that goes better. Thanks for the article Danielle I now see that my ten year olds (almost 11 year old) could handle more responsibility and I could be less of a control freak.
Posted by Teresa on Tuesday, Jan 5, 2010 6:27 PM (EDT):
we also had a rough day back. Emily (4) started back to school monday. I had to leave her crying in the arms of her teacher. she was not ready to go back. Work for my husband and I was about the same. My husband was coming of a 1 1/2 Christmas break. I was ready to get back to our normal schedule. I had a hard time this year. My Grandmother passed away the saturday before Christmas with the funeral tuesday before Christmas. I had a hard time with it all. during the funeral service the pastor spoke about how thankful we should be that because of Christmas my Grandmother in now in heaven. It was still just hard to keep the spirit. But getting easier with each day that passes.
Posted by Elizabeth Kay Pinder on Tuesday, Jan 5, 2010 10:36 PM (EDT):
I gave myself permission to return more slowly to the “grind” of homeschool this year. This week it’s math, Christmas present “thank you” notes, puzzles, Mom read-aloud (“Just David”) and piano practice in the mornings and then after lunch it’s back to piano and violin practices and more Mom read-aloud (Huck Finn), plus quiet read. Works for me. Next week will be HARD!! Add science, history, IEW writing program… But for now, we enjoy…
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