We are now officially in the Christmas season! It's usually one of my favorite times of year, but the past couple of years have been stressful. Ever since my parents split freshman year, handling the holidays has been nerve-wracking and emotional. But this year is going to be different.
I have already started enjoying this holiday, starting midnight after Thanksgiving. I have made the decision to not work over the two weeks that I will be home. And I already have plans to make my brothers' lives miserable, in the most loving sense possible.
Christmas music and movies are essential to this time of year. Spotify, Pandora, 8tracks and even my own limited Christmas music supply have kept me happy. I even formulated a study Christmas playlist, ready for finals. White Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas got me ready to begin the last two weeks of class, and more movies wait for me at home.
It's not going to be a big gift-giving year for me. My bank account just won't allow it. But my decision to not work over break is not going to come back to haunt me. My on-campus job keeps me afloat. Going to school far from home has its advantages, but there are also disadvantages like missing out on everyone growing up. But now I won't miss any opportunity to hang out with my niece and nephew when they aren't at their other grandparents, and I won't miss any chance to hang out with my younger brothers and cousins.
I worked hard all summer, and I worked even harder during the semester. I'm going to go ice skating with the little kids, enjoy a drink with my best friend (we haven't had a chance to celebrate together since we both turned 21 in October) and bake cookies with my younger, not-so-little anymore, brothers.
In my family, it's become about the little things, especially around holidays - making sure we are putting effort into our relationships and spending time with each other. And since I'm gone most of the year, those are little things that I can do to let them know that I still care and enjoy every moment I get to spend with them. Making a meal for my mom, surprising my dad at work with lunch, and getting my brothers out of the house are just a few things I have planned.
Holidays are only stressful if you make them that way. Going home with a good attitude and a smile on my face are a good start to making this particular holiday as relaxing as possible.
Merry Christmas!
Contact Annemarie Loessberg at
aloess01@saintmarys.edu
The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer
