The thing is, life’s all about expectations.  I’ve found this to be true, regardless of the situation.

Example:  Sibling relationships

• Expect top notch.  Get bottom rung. Disappointed.
• Expect little, other than love.  Receive a smidge more. Connected and content.

What a difference an expectation levels makes!

This idea rings true for the holiday season as well.  As Christmas approaches, I watch the frenzy around me and sometimes wonder why we get so caught up in the rush.  I know, of course, that there is more to do than time allows.  If that weren’t true, the Christmas cards I ordered in October wouldn’t still be sitting on my desk.  I wouldn’t have been making the hard tack candy to give to teachers early in the afternoon on the very day I needed to give it to them.  I would’ve baked those cut-out cookies by now.  Needless to say, I’m not exempt from holiday to-do lists, chock full of things I haven’t gotten to yet.

The difference is that this year I don’t feel a bit of stress about it.  This hasn’t always been the case; high stress has been the hallmark of many previous holidays.  This year, however, something changed.  Instead of expecting perfection, I just expected my best—and the two are far from the same.  Allowing myself that bit of space created a sense of peace I didn’t expect.  Bonus peace!  Sure, I wish my cards were in the mail.  But the point of the cards is to connect with friends, and I’ve realized that will happen regardless of the day they’re stamped by the post office.

Shopping is another thing that was easier this year.  In a complete score, I lucked out and was able to do my black Friday shopping on Thanksgiving night, sitting there in my cozy pajamas with a glass of wine in my hand.  A late night e-mail from Amazon advertised the camera I’d had my eye on—the only big thing on my black Friday list—on sale for $50 less than any of the ads I’d seen.  SOLD.  I slept in, avoided the masses at the stores, and headed for the local tree-lighting ceremony that evening, complete with a visit from Santa and free hot cider.  Stress-free, I tell ya.

The other difference this year is that, somewhere along the line, I became truly thankful.  I always thought I was, but I guess this year my thankfulness grew up.  In appreciating where I am, and not focusing on where else I could be (or what else I could be getting done), I have inadvertently released myself from some of the traditional holiday mayhem.  And why, you ask, am I so darn thankful?

Probably for many of the same reasons you are.  I am grateful to the core of my being for my warm home.  I am elated that my children are healthy.  I love that they’re learning to make good choices.  My children’s teachers show up day after day and nurture them, and teach them, and guide them when I’m not around.  I’m eternally grateful for them.  Hunger is just a word around here.  When my kids complain that they’re hungry, I’m thankful that they have never known how it feels to be truly hungry.  I’m thankful that my world doesn’t involve making a choice between feeding them or buying them winter boots.  I’m thankful for my husband, my friends, my family, my faith.  And I’m here to tell you, there’s nothing stressful about that.

This post was written for Parent Blogger Network‘s blog blast, which is sponsored this time by FFDA, a non-profit organization that offers support and assistance for folks who are feeling overwhelmed, both at the holidays and all year long.