Return-Path: <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id eB1GgZ903476; Fri, 1 Dec 2000 11:42:45 -0500 (EST) Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2000 11:42:45 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <NCBBKFFJMKFIFAGAFGNEIEDECNAA.mwaddell@famlit.org> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Margo Waddell" <mwaddell@famlit.org> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:3282] RE: holidays X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2910.0) Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 2364 Lines: 47 When my children were at home, and I was a single parent, stress ran high in our house approaching and during the holidays. Most of the stress was related to my knowing that the children would leave Christmas eve on an airplane to Canada and not return until the New Year eve bubbles were flat. I realized eventually that they suffered from the same stress that I did in a different way. They were sad that their mom and dad were not only divorced, but could not stand to be in the same room with each other. I tell you all this so you might understand the list of stress busters we developed to survive until we were together again. We started right after Thanksgiving making and mailing Christmas cards to everyone we knew we would not see during the holidays. Our lists were different and it gave us a chance to talk about the people on the list and what we wanted them to know about our lives this year. We usually had a new address to share too, because we moved often. Second we made Christmas cookies together every weekend. It gave us lots of time to be together, laugh, discuss things, and express our creativity in design, or not, depending on our day. These were the gifts we gave. Packed up in little bundles or tins that I collected all year at garage sales. The children would carry their cookies to Canada, and I would take or send some to my friends and family here in the United States. We also read the Christmas story from the Bible and set up a small crèche scene to help us remember why people celebrate Christmas. The children always added something special that they made. I worked every Christmas day for others so they could be with their families, knowing how much that would mean to them. It helped me get through those years. Now, I enjoy a family holiday every year with one of my children and their family. I still make cards and cookies to give and enjoy. May your holiday be blessed this year and your new year grand! Best wishes, Margo Waddell NCFL > -----Original Message----- > From: nifl-family@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-family@nifl.gov]On Behalf Of > MEYER@clopton.k12.mo.us > Sent: Monday, November 20, 2000 12:07 PM > To: Multiple recipients of list > Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:3276] holidays > > > Does anyone have ideas or sources for giving parents ideas about > "Living through the stressful holidays with children"? > > B. >
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Jan 16 2001 - 14:41:51 EST