Today's question

I'm honored to be chosen for Babble's Top 100 Mom Blogs again this year! Thank you for reading!

I'm busy. Really busy. I bet you are, too. Today's question:

What will it take to get you through the next four weeks?

I'll go first: Coffee (lots of it) and running three times a week. And being fewer than 5 months from having my MBA.

You?

Comments

[pennifer]

As long as there are no more critical crises or reports/proposals between now and Dec 31, I'll probably survive. I'm hoping for some significant insomnia to help with productivity, since staying up late isn't as effective and is more tiring. Good weather would be helpful. A husband who comes home from work early to cook his share of dinners. I'm not even thinking about xmas shopping, which is too bad, b/c I need to get a move on with it for the East Coasters.

[jennifer]

I need the fiscal cliff to be resolved. I need to know how much of a ding we will be taking in our checks next month. I don't know about anyone else but I have a budget and I need to be making a plan for where to cut. Especially since I know tuition is going to go up.

At this rate, I'm not going to be able to afford coffee.

[Spacemom]

calm. lots of it. From me. Because I am already sick of "Simply having a wonderful Christmas time" and it is December 4.

[Heather]

To remember it is about how it FEELS not how it LOOKS. And remembering to drink water - but that is an all the time thing for me.

[paola]

The worst is actually over. My seemingly never-ending term as PTA rep is coming to an end and so too are all the kids' extra- curricular activities. Xmas shopping has been done and have even printed our boarding passes for our flight back home, ridiculously early. So maybe some decent weather so I can go running and for this annoying cold to go away.

[Katie]

I need to know what my husband's teaching schedule is going to be next semester so I can plan for childcare. We have preschool, and a nanny, and the nanny is leaving at the end of the semester (unless I can convince her otherwise) and there are just a ton of moving parts that I can't begin to resolve until I know where/when he's teaching (he teaches a full load at our state university but they set schedules by semester and for some reason have not completed spring 2013 yet, and it is killing me).

[WikiMomma]

What are you too busy for? What do you feel you're missing by because you're busy?

[Catherine]

I need to not have any more medical/dental/optometrist appointments scheduled for the remainder of 2012 for my son or myself. Since the start of the school year, I've taken him or me to 14 separate appointments -- none of them for anything serious, mostly re-checks, well-child visits, dental cleanings, etc. but it all adds up. I know I should be grateful that we're in good health, we have (pretty good) insurance and access to care, etc. but I am heartily sick of the multi-practice clinic where all of our various doctors work.

(He actually has one more, on Dec. 20 with a urologist, but I'm making his dad take him to that one because Dad will be off work and I don't have any firsthand experience with the relevant plumbing, so.)

[Laura]

I never think I am going to be overwhelmed and then I let it happen-no plan for gifts, no plan to get the cards done, a desire to bake but not enough time. I thought 5 weeks between holidays would make it seem more calm, and while it is only December 4, I feel like I have no time to get things done, and it's not that many things really. So I think I need to inventory the gifts I've bought so I actually know what I still need to buy and that will help a lot v. me wandering aimlessly through stores at lunch thinking I need more. I also am spending way more than I thought I would and I don't know why I can't stop.

[Schwa de Vivre]

A timeturner.

[Amy]

Selling and buying a house by 12/21. We need all the paperwork to keep moving and need to keep less stressed about said move. Need to keep some Christmas routine for the 4 and 5 year old. It is a magical age for the season and I want them (and my and my DH) to enjoy it amid the boxes..

[el-e-e]

Focus while I'm on the clock; a quick, successful session of Christmas shopping online; decisive in-laws (no wishy washy-ness); and a heaping helping of kindness/compassion while staying with those in-laws, in the 4th week! ;)

[AmyinMotown]

I'm taking it chunks--get this particularly hellish week over with (work deadlines and school papers, then the semester is OVAH); then next week (another deadline, very important work meeting, client Christmas party); then I think I might just have a beautiful week with the kids in school and not a ton to do; then Christmas and my husband is off until the new year so all of us will be together for a week without much on our agenda. It's the last week that's getting me through.

[Kate]

Sleep. Lots of sleep.

[Erin]

For the never ending fevers and illnesses and mysterious hives of my 2 y.o. to be resolved. I spent more time in november away from work than working, and I'm desperate for a couple of weeks of hard work. It's weird to wish for more time to work, but there it is. I'm afraid I'm getting my toddler's flu. I'm afraid he has the flu and this is a Visitation for my not getting him a flu shot in a timely fashion.

I have no holiday anxiety, thank goodness. I've finished our modest shopping. I spent $100 on the two kids combined, and my partner wanted a camera, which we used all our birthday and Christmas money for. We like simply holidays.

[Sarah]

The thought of two blissful UNSCHEDULED weeks during the holidays. Work is going to be crazy busy up until I take that time off. A financial windfall would certainly ease some stress as well, but since that's not going to happen, I'll just countdown until I get a break. I'm finding doing an Advent calendar with activities that force me off the computer and spending time with my kids helpful in easing the craziness too.

[Lisa]

I need to know how my school district plans to make up the 5 days lost to Hurricane Sandy. School was slated to end a week earlier than last year, and I had intended to plan a vacation, but I heard a rumor that school might be extended a few days into that week (which is the third week of June & way too hot). They have already accounted for 3 of the 5 by opening school on Election Day & taking back the 2 "weather make-up" days in May, but there are still 2 more, and no plan if it snows, which I'm pretty convinced it will. I was hoping they would just cancel February break, which is utterly unnecessary, to me. Another week off 6 weeks after a long 10 day Christmas break & 6 weeks before spring break is a waste. But I learned it is written into the teachers' contract. And honey badger don't play with the teachers' union.

Communication in this district is abominable and they might wait as long as possible to make the decision & break the news. And I need to know how to plan the second half of the school year!

[Alexicographer]

Getting over the flu, or symptoms of same (I'm vaccinated! I know, it's not 100%), that I'm experiencing. Staying healthy and having my family do the same. Returning safely from one work trip (that I'm looking forward to, but still). Amazon and other sites that protect me from needing to set foot in retail establishments during this season.

The fact that my being sick has led me to decide this isn't the season to introduce our household hosting a holiday party, even a simple one, will also help, though I'd been looking forward to having some of our neighbors over. There's always Groundhog Day to celebrate.

[Sharon Silver]

Congratulations on being named one of Babbles top 100 Mom Blogs. Nice that they printed what we already knew!

[Rbelle]

If the "morning" sickness and fatigue go away, if my husband and I stop bickering over the bedtime/chores routine, and if I can get more/better sleep, I think I might make it. Also, I knocked out a fair amount of holiday stress this year by doing almost all my shopping online (and I am almost completely done). Sad, actually, because I used to love Christmas shopping, but toddler + three hours at the mall = multiple meltdowns on both our parts. This year's huge stressor (besides my work from home job, which will be overwhelming until January) is the family photo. My husband wants to take it himself. Outside. At 6 a.m. There's only three of us, but it didn't go well with the toddler last year, and we were in our own living room. I love him and he loves photography, so I'm letting it go, but yeesh. Can't wait until it's over with.

[Rebecca]

To have one week - strike that, even just three days! - without some member of my family being sick. Colds, stomach bugs, sinus infections, you name it, they've hit us non-stop this whole fall. A short run of health would make December bearable!

[teachergirl]

my ankle to allow me to walk without pain or a limp (got shattered when i was 36 weeks pregnant, or about 4 months ago, and had to be put back together after i did the splits on the stairs while carrying laundry down--won't make THAT mistake ever again!). our across-two-states move to go well. enough time to finish grading while all of this hullabaloo is going on. my babies to adjust well to their new home. holiday trips to be uneventful drives with sleeping babies. patience with myself. love for myself. time. just lots and lots more time than i think. and if my baby decided to keep up this whole only waking up once to nurse during the night thing, that wouldn't suck either.

[Elaine]

I need to figure out exactly how we'll be able to manage the unexpected van repair and making good on the couple of things DS asked Santa to bring him.

I also need to make sure I continue the Christmas tradition we began last year. Christmas night, everyone plays together with their new gifts while I get a glass of wine and take a hot bath. I'm finding that I'm a bit less of a scrooge this year knowing that there is a little something for me in it.

[Jillian]

I'm pretty sure this is not the year I sail gracefully through the holidays. I've randomly ordered some gifts. I don't know what to get teachers or my Mom. I will probably chuck things in a gift bag 10 seconds before I give them away. I will forget things and send my husband to the store (any store) to just buy something. I'll forget to get gift wrap.

I'm going to go ahead and forgive myself in advance. Some years are like this, and this one is one of them.

[Rudyinparis]

Right now I want to get over this nasty head cold. Apart from that, what it will take to get me through the next 4 weeks is an ability to stay present and just enjoy the tumult. I'm thinking a judicious use of wine may help, too.

[Natalie]

Wine, wine and more wine! Lol. Just kidding...sort of. What will help me get through the next four weeks? Focusing on what is GOOD about this crazy holiday season and not so much on all the stuff I have to get done and how little time I have to do it. Right now my job is crazy busy, I have a 2 1/2 year old that has stopped sleeping through the night and now gets out of bed 4-5 times and only wants Mommy, Mommy, Mommy. *sigh*

[Sherry]

Oh lord. I think I need something to happen to my mother in law who has come to live with us. No, that's REALLY not true. I don't know how to make this new living arrangement okay. I think I have to breathe deeply a lot, remember that we are all children of the universe and she may be so different from me and she can't talk about things but she is not evil and she loves us, be okay with myself and not jealous of time with my husband that I believe she is taking from me, go late one night and buy gifts for my darling child even though we are living on an SBA loan, let myself know that I am normal and that these feelings will pass and if they don't something can be done. I don't like going around with my heart beating hard in anger. That is no route to happiness. So I will ignore the bad and look to the good, for myself.

[Latte]

Oh boy wine and lots of chocolate! My parents are divorced and we had agreed that they would take turns coming to visit for Christmas so this year is dads turn and mom is already laying on the guilt....yuck. Squirmy's birthday is also on Christmas day, his first, so it will be very emotional for me. I have planned "escapes" with the girls where if I call and say " I need to come over" then I have an hour or two away from chaps and sharing a laugh and a glass of wine....no boys allowed...

[Agnes]

Barring a surprise, this is my last month of maternity leave ever, so I have to keep things in balance for myself - enjoy the time with the baby but get the other things done as well. I constantly go back and forth. Should I go to the coffee shop? But I could get just as much done at home and it's cheaper. Should I go browse for Xmas gifts at the mall? But it's cheaper to stay home, and I have lots of things to do at home. Should I focus on getting things done with the kids or with work? Etc.

[Shalini]

drinking lots of alcohol. we're moving AGAIN (twice in 30 months) back to AUSTRALIA... I love it there, but it's so damn far away. My mind is restless and I can't sleep... seems par for the course. Ready for Mid-January when I won't have to step onto a plane for quite a while with 3 kids and a husband!

[Myla]

I need to stop buying stuff on zulilly in the middle of the night while breastfeeding. I need to figure out a good and realistic art project for my three year old to do for the many family members who adore him. Oh and it has to be fun. Right. I need to run on the treadmill more than I sneak chocolate chips when my son is not looking (and I wonder why he can't control himself around sweets!). I need to hide presents successfully yet not forget where I hid them. I need our furnace to keep working. I need another dinner date with my son where I just follow his lead and he destroys me with his awesomeness.

[Guest]

Ha ha, i like the question! :)
I agree, definately some coffee, sleep and lots of prayers. :)

Exciting times! :)

http://andlovewillfindyou.blogspot.com/2012/12/receive-beauty-for-ashes.html

[Jstar]

A back-up plan (ie, a baby-sitter). Prayers (this worked when I was about to snap at my daughter this morning, a reminder that all that we're going through is not her fault, and an opportunity for her to see that mommy needs someone's help sometimes too). Sleep. Patience with my spouse and my kids. Some emergency funds from my mom for babysitter above. Perhaps a sleep aid (wine might work) when I am staying in a hotel for three nights for a job interview (campus visit), first time away from my 6-month-old angel. Trying to be positive that at least this is a chance for me to sleep through the night (if my body/mind lets me...).

[Heather]

This year is geared to be my least stressful one yet. We're not hosting, we didn't just move and I have most of my shopping done. So what I need is to remember to be grateful instead of nitpicking for no reason :) And I would like to do something special for charity - something other than a cash donation.

[Marie]

Amen to Coffee! And the knowledge that my in-laws will spend the month of January 2 states away.

[Tiquinho]

Ali Harkness - I'm so happy to see that first picture again. I love it! I can't wait to live clesor hopefully sometime we'll get to meet our friend Owen!February 8, 2010 7:59 PM