Nothing sends a busy working mom into a frenzy faster than Christmas music on the radio the first week of November when her husband is out of town, she is running late for a meeting because her sitter was late, and she still needs to stop for gas! While most women absolutely love Christmas music (I am a huge fan!), on this hectic day, after a hectic week, in a very hectic month – it was the straw that broke the camels back.
Did we already eat turkey? Isn’t there still a carved pumpkin on my porch? The Christmas music conjures up the mental list: teacher gifts, mother-in-law visit, nieces and nephews, shopping, baking, parties, teacher gifts (did I already say that?) children’s wish lists, christmas plays, cookie swaps, holiday cards . . . ahhhhh!
So, Women who Run . . . I implore you to embrace the only Holiday devoted to Thanking the people who help us run our busy lives! We have so much to be grateful for and we have so many people to thank that we need to learn to embrace Thanksgiving as a time to thank those who really make a difference in our lives. The teachers, the babysitters, the girlfriends, the neighbors, etc. Thanksgiving is such an over looked and undervalued Holiday. This should be the official Holiday for busy women. Keep it simple – a handwritten note, a gift of chocolate, a coupon for a night of babysitting for your girlfriend so she can go out with her husband. Think about it – half of your list will be taken care of, your effort will be appreciated and not overlooked in the chaos of the busy Holidays ahead. Drop off your thank you gifts, go for a run, eat your turkey dinner, take a nap . . . for the next day the Christmas Carols begin!