My kids have had a taste of vacation…four long days of play, food, and festivities and now it is back to school on Monday morning. I can tell from the dragging faces and lack of enthusiasm that the next few weeks are going to be tough. They are just trying to hold it together until the long winter break…
The truth is, my kids have four weeks—a full month to try to stay focused before they are set free for the winter holidays. Then it is nearly two full weeks of leisure. But, I know from experience that once Thanksgiving has passed, it is nearly impossible for them to focus on anything but holiday activities, making plans for the break, socializing, and other seasonal details. Our evenings are filled with cocoa and cookies instead of focused homework and school projects, and all the television specials, community events, and social activities are grand distractions for active teenagers. If memory serves, I imagine that things are not much better for the teachers and administrators at the schools—trying to keep all these distracted kids in their seats and doing some semblance of school work.
I become a bit distracted myself. With so many other details to focus on, my crack-the-whip parenting tends to take a back seat. It is tough enough for me to get myself out of bed and to the work desk on these icy, cold, grey, foggy mornings. And once I am at my desk, I’ve also got a half-dozen “to do” lists full of seasonal tasks and responsibilities I need to work through. Focus! What we all four need right now is a little focus…and less peppermint sticks and chocolate fudge to distract us from our tasks—we just need to hold it together for four more weeks, just until winter break…
Also: On to the Next Holiday
Is it Already Time for Christmas Music?