So Halloween is over and the mall tells me that Christmas is coming soon.  In between, there's also Thanksgiving.  I remember in high school, I used to look forward to the holidays because it was a time to sit back eat good food, get in a few naps, visit with family and relax. 

Looking back, my Mom always seemed a bit stressed, but I never really tuned into it.  Heading toward the holidays, I wish that I could regain that sense that the holidays are the perfect time to get rest and relaxation, to get so much done.  Instead, I have a sense of impending gloom because between now and Christmas I have several dissertation deadlines in addition to the typical holiday deadlines for Thanksgiving and then Christmas. 

This year, my sister-in-law and our niece will be joining us for Thanksgiving.  They're wonderful people, really, but our niece is 14 and so planning things that she will do that our 1 year old can also do and having everyone enjoy them has me in a bit of  a tizzy.  I still recall last Christmas when they came and my niece didn't get up until 2 pm after I'd planned a day of activities for us.  I suppose that it's all about lowering expectations.  I'll set the expectation that we'll eat one meal together daily and possibly do one family actitvity while they're here.  If we get more than that, I'll be proud, and hopefully this year I can avoid some of the stress of the holiday family-ness. 

In some ways, I'm sad because I no longer think that Thanksgiving is restful.  Of course, this is because I know that I'll be up the morning of at 6 AM to get the turkey started (having thawed it a few days in advance), to make stuffing and dressing (for those who don't like it in the bird), and to make all of the side dishes that it just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without.  Then there are the pies, at least one pumpkin and one pecan, and the list goes on.  In the meantime, I'll try to make sure that  my daugther has something fun to do (coloring, books, and outside times are current favorites) where I can keep an eye on her, but she's not underfoot.  Because right now she's a real Mama's girl, I'm not sure how well this will go, but perhaps I'll be able to rely on my husband for some support, and maybe our niece or my sister-in-law will be able to help with some toddler management.  

Of course, all Moms manage this juggling act somehow, and I'm sure that I, too, will find that balance.Ah well, no matter what, Thanksgiving promises what it always has, food and family, and it's just up to me to figure out how I'm going to get the rested feeling that I used to get.