Category Archives: family

Universal Wireless for All

December 31, 2008family, New YearKirsetin

When I was in college, I had what you might call a Diet Pepsi & Mountain Dew habit. But then I spent a sememster in Austria, where Diet Pepsi was made with saccharin, which made me nauseous. After enduring the knife-splitting headaches of withdrawal, I swore off addiction once and for all.

And then came blogging. No, I’m not stocking up on Advil again, but I haven’t had much access to Mayberry or mamabird or the rest of you, and it’s making me a teensy bit antsy. Okay, maybe “antsy” isn’t how the others would describe it, but seriously, it’s making me nuts.

I’d like to do a real post here, something about New Year’s and goals or resolutions or lofty aspirations. But since I’m totally stealing my dad’s laptop and sneaking in a few forbidden moments to myself, I don’t have time right now. Instead, I simply want to wish all of you a happy and healthy 2009. And dream of universal access to wireless for everyone!

How to Have A Peaceful Holiday

December 20, 2008christmas, contentment, familyKirsetin

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.

And How About the Ornaments?

December 14, 2008christmas, familyKirsetin

The very first Christmas after we were married, I wandered around the old Seattle Bon Marche (RIP) eyeing the beautifully decorated trees with wonder. The whole “theme” thing was a new concept for me. All silver! All red and green! Or crimson, with gold!

Growing up, our tree was filled with decorations my mom loved, some made by my brother or me at school, others gathered with love over the years. I still remember (and she still hangs) that angel I made and painted so very carefully, with its bright yellow hair. Our only theme was “ornaments;” there was no “pretty” tree in the living room with a separate “kid tree” out back. And until I saw those marvels at the Bon Marche, I never thought a thing about it.

But then, then I started to wonder. What kind of tree would we have after kids arrived? Would we hang their carefully made ornaments on a special tree just for them. Maybe, I thought. Just maybe we would. I sort of liked the idea.

But then, as the years rolled by, I realized that every single ornament we hang holds a special memory for me.

There’s this one, given to us by our friends Harry and Kim, shortly before they were married. Harry and Greg were 2nd lieutenants in the Army together, and roommates back in the day. Every year when I hang this ornament I think of them, and of the many laughs we shared. Even typing this makes me smile, as the memories come flooding back.

And this one, given to me by my boss at one of my favorite employers, also in the Seattle days. His wife chose it, I’m sure, but I treasure it nonetheless. When I hang this ornament it takes me back to that life, that time, and for a few moments I get to revel in days long past.

Then there’s this one. After Seattle we spent some time (sounds like a jail term, doesn’t it?), in Wisconsin. And though I didn’t anticipate it, some wonderful things came out of those years. Two boys in 2 1/2 years, a Packer SuperBowl win, and a friendship that has stood the test of time and trials. This beautiful ornament was given to us, to our son actually, by our friends Chris and Holly, two of the dearest souls around. I’m certain it’s no coincidence that the four of us moved to WI at the same time. It was just meant to be.

For as long as I can remember, my grandparents gave me a Hallmark ornament at Christmas. Somewhere along the way my grandmother decided to give me ornaments that create a little village, and we set these down by the train now – the firehouse and the bake shoppe and all of the fun Victorian homes. But before those years, I got an array of beauties, and this has long been one of my favorites. Most of our Christmases were spent in my grandparents small, warm living room, and that scene lives on in my mind, and heart. I see it every time I hang this bell.

My mother has picked up where my grandmother left off, and gives my children ornaments every year. So far, I think she’s made every one of them. (No, sadly I did not get that gene.) This is one of my favorites for many reasons, patriotism not the least of them. My life, and hers, were shaped by my father’s service to our country. This ornament represents so many things: service, family, love, tradition, sacrifice.

And, finally, there are the bows. The boys have taken over most of the ornament hanging, with a few small cluster corrections here and there. But my job is always to finish with the bows. My first Christmas after college I was living in San Francisco. No snow, no family, just me and my Jewish roommate, Sara. Sara wasn’t at all opposed to having a Christmas tree in our apartment, so I hiked down to a corner lot & dragged one up. My dear aunt came to visit, all the way from the east coast, and couldn’t help but notice that my 20 or so ornaments from grandma didn’t exactly fill the tree. She went out and bought some red velvet ribbon, and hand-tied these little bows for my tree. I saved them that year, and the next, and now my boys can’t imagine our tree without them. And I can’t either.

And so, the crimson-and-gold themed tree is relic of the past, an image in my mind to remember from those early days. Now I see those fancy trees in the stores and they make me a little bit sad, because there’s no feeling to them, no family, no love. And at Christmastime, I think we need a little of all of those.