Are you feeling done with Christmas, yet?
I've had it with the tinsel, decorations, the food and the presents. The kids are tired and just plain worn out.
I guess we are all celebrated out…
It feels a bit like we've had all this Christmas excitement and hype for weeks, and now, everything is done. The kids are still off school but I cannot help feeling a little like I'm in limbo.
It feels a little like a Christmas hangover. Do you know what I mean?
Do feel like this too after all the hype?
We traveled back home over the weekend, and it felt like we left grandma's house in the north with a dark cloud surrounding us. No, it wasn't just the rain.
Saying goodbye to family is hard, even when you're older and have kids. My husband struggles with it, and I try and sympathize but I simply don't have that family bond. I never did but I see how it affects him.
We've had an awesome time seeing our extended family, and now it's back to being just the four of us.
It feels a bit, well, meh. (If I'm honest)
Our large noisy family gathered in one room in a flurry of Christmas presents being passed round the room on the big day. Squeals of laughter over funny presents and excitement over opening more.
The puppy dog doing donuts on the living room floor.
The kids acted completely crazy and nobody cared because it was Christmas day. We were all a bit silly and slightly inebriated as we cooked and spent time together.
We had so much food, and played a crazy amount of games. We watched family movies over hot cocoa and candy treats.
Everyone enjoyed sharing our recent news and planed ahead of what's to come. My kids told everyone about school and their latest adventures from last semester. They both have some fun school trips to look forward to and I'm graduating again in March from my MFA.
Then after all that, the long drive home. Hours on the interstate with nothing but tail lights and car jams.
We arrive back in our little town, where we communicate with our far-away family on the phone.
We arrive at the house. It still sparkles like Christmas, but our joy is short lived as we hear our neighbors intruder alarm go off like a piercing siren.
We hold our ears at the deafening noise, the cops are on their way. Several neighbors look out their windows as two lanky youths dressed in black run away. One holds a TV, the other a laptop as they run across back yards and disappear in the dark.
My husband shoots out of our car, the engine still on, hot on their tail. He returns, out of breath as the cops arrive. He couldn't catch them and he thinks they had help.
We spend an hour in our drive way, giving our statements. I try getting hold of our neighbors who are still on vacation until New Year's Day.
My youngest is crying and worries about the burglars coming back to rob our house next. The cop takes pity on him and gives him and his brother a badge, declaring them his little deputies. It spins a bad situation in a better light for them as they run into our house and play cops and robbers.
The police secure our neighbor's house. We try and move on with our evening but it's all a bit much.
Christmas might be over, but I wish it didn't have to end this way.
It's bittersweet after such a wonderful Christmas time with family.
I hope you had an awesome time this Christmas with your family.
My name is Lizzy. I'm a trauma survivor, a wife, a mom, a teacher, and an author.
If you like reading my posts, then please follow me.
For more about me: www.elizabethwoodsauthor.com
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Here are a few links to my articles:
5 Minutes Christmas Peace
https://medium.com/be-reaching-hearts/5-minutes-christmas-peace-64c19c9d0165
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
https://medium.com/activated-thinker/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas-daf1fa510807
Looking for a Change?
https://medium.com/activated-thinker/looking-for-a-change-f391e85abbd7
A Search for Identity
https://medium.com/beyond-lines/a-search-for-identity-893df7c970c2
Are You Searching for Peace?
https://medium.com/illumination/are-you-searching-for-peace-cd54d76231c8
Are You Dealing With Burnout?
Are You Dealing With Burnout?
Hey, how are you doing? How are your stress levels right now?medium.com
About the Creator
Elizabeth Woods
My name is Lizzy and I'm an author, elementary school teacher and an MFA creative writing student. I write emotion-filled fiction narratives for people who have no voice like trauma survivors. This is my website: elizabethwoodsauthor.com
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Comments (1)
I am feeling like that more than ever this year.