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Home > Blogs > Adventures in Motherhood > Archives > 2012 > January > 10 > Entry
Cleaning up Christmas: back to reality
I’m reveling in the, albeit temporary, quietness that has descended upon our home as I write this.
The fan on the fireplace gently hums, the washing machine begins its first cycle of “Oh-no, I’m out of clean underwear!” and snowflakes gently fall outside.
Even my 2-year-old sleeps soundly at this hour (wonders never cease).
The boys went back to school today after what loomed ahead as the longest winter break ever; and now it is has suddenly ended.
Another season of making cookies, memories and sleeping-in is over.
The stores are already stocked up with heart-shaped chocolates and plastic roses.
Now that I am not refereeing sibling squabbles over the new Squinkies from Santa, I have no reason to procrastinate any longer.
It is time to face the aftermath of another holiday that was.
The Christmas decorations must come down, the laundry must be caught up, and the once exciting new toys must find a location appropriate for now collecting dust.
Looking around at the many jobs I started, but never finished, leads me to wonder: What on earth have I been doing for the last three weeks?
The stockings are piled carelessly on the fireplace hearth, the garland falls limp and uneven on the wooden hand rails, the holiday dishes are stacked on the counter (at least they are washed), the no-longer-scented pine cones hide in places I can’t remember, rolls of wrapping paper are scattered about, thank-you notes are written but sit waiting for stamps that were used up sending holiday cards, and my kids’ rooms look like a tornado blew through Toys-R-Us.
I think I prefer watching college football and playing Sorry! and Operation. Again.
I did manage to talk the boys into helping me put away some of the decorations. Once the Christmas tree becomes a target for couch-catapulting, it’s time to put it away.
However, it was eerily similar to putting the decorations up for the season: “Can I eat this old candy cane?” “Who made this one?” “Will this break if I drop it?” “Where is the step stool? I can’t reach the top.” “Who moved baby Jesus?” “Were there really pine cones where Jesus was born?” “Sissy’s chewing on the camel!”
There is always excitement for the holidays. When else is it acceptable to bake (eat) 19 dozen cookies and drink Bailey’s in your morning coffee?
But, it is also nice when the holidays are over; when the daily routine you were “stuck” in graciously returns marking only the beginning of a long, cold, trapped-in-the-house-with- three-energetic-kids winter.
I’ll be out at the curb with the Christmas tree …
Contact this contributing writer at Motherhoodcolumn@yahoo.com or facebook.com/motherhoodCTC
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