My solution for holiday stress (no, it's not alcohol):

Soyager · December 2010

Coloring.

My students showed me a holiday-themed computer game today and the little pic of a stocking used in it brought me back to childhood for some reason--reminded me of those simple handouts teachers would give you in elementary school the day before winter break. And I really liked that excited-for-Christmas feeling.

So, I printed out some coloring pages and fully intend on sitting and pretending that I am a 6-year-old kid biding my time before Santa arrives.

The cookies can wait.
The gifts will get wrapped.
I'll grocery shop in the morning.

I realized that in trying to recreate the feeling of Christmas, I was trying to be my mom instead of remembering what was grand about being Little Soyager at Christmastime. So, think about what you enjoyed as a kid, drop everything else for a minute, and DO THAT thing.

Question: should I hang my coloring pages on the fridge when I'm finished? ;p

AlishaRichelle · December 2010

Soyager:
Question: should I hang my coloring pages on the fridge when I'm finished? ;p

Ummm... totally! When I was an RA in a freshman dorm I did coloring and cartoons night before finals to give my kids a chance to unwind. We hung the pictures in the hall.