This was a great thread to catch up on I learned about Victoria day when I chose that day to go to Ikea to shop for our bathroom remodel. Although we live in the US (northern VT) Ikea Montreal is only about 1.25 hours from us, and it turned out to be a great day to go since there wasn't the normal City traffic! Veteran's Day in the US my started more as Rememberance Day is in Canada - honoring the Armistice Day for WWI ,but was then expanded to honor all Veterans of all wars, I think under Nixon. I agree with @eatinwatermelonseeds that Veteran's Day does seem to get more attention about honoring our Veterans now than Memorial Day. The parade in our town is much more somber for Veteran's Day than it is for Memorial Day, but still a lot of focus on those who have served and fallen for both holidays.
@knarlytaurus I find that interesting that veteran's day is more somber. But I guess realistically it's honoring the service members who survived their time (whether they went to war or not) and there's a lot of heaviness that goes with that. There's a lot of sacrifice being in as well. Honestly I hated being a military spouse more than I hated being in. So, I appreciate the places that give discounts to family as well. Though you will see me get all kinds of angry if a spouse tries to pull rank 🙄🙄 okay. Done my weird pointless ramble.
@wishiwaspreggo@sleepy33@eatinwatermelonseeds my 3yo asked why it was snowing (because we live in Canada, dear) and I replied that winter was officially here. My 5yo pipes up and says 'that means its Christmas!!" This was a couple weeks ago and I quickly corrected her that winter starts well before the Christmas season where we live but she cannot get it out of her head. Literally every day they make a statement saying "tomorrow is Christmas!" And every day we break their heart and tell them its well over a month away still. I've refused to start a countdown until Dec 1 in the past, but I may have to break that rule just to save my sanity because the daily "Christmas is here" is dampening my Christmas spirit lol
@mcewen3 mine has TWO advent calendars waiting for him (one is a Lego one my SO got him, awww), and the wait until December 1 seems to lit-rally be killing him.
I think I may need to get an advent calendar. Do you think they make something similar for my due date? I'm also getting "is the baby going to be here soon?" Every day.
@eatinwatermelonseeds idk if they do, but I've seen some really cute ways people countdown with their kids if they have a deployed spouse, maybe you could do the same? I have one friend who filled up a jar with jelly beans and they ate one every day until they were gone. One time she made a paper chain and they tore off a link every day. Could be fun!
I think I may need to get an advent calendar. Do you think they make something similar for my due date? I'm also getting "is the baby going to be here soon?" Every day.
This is pretty much the biggest reason we haven't told the girls about the baby yet. I know they're going to be over the moon, but they have zero concept of time and waiting just kills them. My Oma turns 90 in May and I asked my mom to convince the rest of the family to celebrate it over the Easter break (selfish reasons, I knew we were TTC and I wouldn't be able to fly late in May. But also, my daughter has a pretty decent break from school at Easter so we can make a nice visit out of it this way rather than a rushed long weekend trip). I booked flights for the girls and I and then booked DH's later after we figured out the best days for him to come with work. DD1 noticed me booking his flight and so I told her what it was for. Now not only is Christmas a big countdown, but the wait until Easter is essentially unbearable. They've told everyone we run into that we're flying to see Oma next week. Sure, next week + 5 months...
@sleepy33I was going to suggest the same advent calendars!
@eatinwatermelonseeds Yep, Restrepo is hard to watch. MH had me watch it too. He wasn't overseas, but he supported troops with Intelligence, and was often interactive with them. He had some really rough days when something went wrong for them. And thank you for your service!
@peachy13 I have tried investing in more Thanksgiving decor too. I like it! I adore Christmas, but I do like to enjoy the decoration smade for the holiday we are in. What I don't like though is packing and unpacking decorations each month for 3 months lol.
I always decorate the day after Thanksgiving. I get the tree up set up Thanksgiving night, and then we decorate the next day. That's how we've always done it, and I carried that tradition over to my own house.
@GeorgiaGirl1230 my husband thought it was a great idea to have me watch that right before his unit deployed again. Thankfully he didn't go on that one, but that movie had me in tears.
@mcewen3 - Does your 5 y/o understand the concept of time (like dates and how days pass and such)? Mine is only 3 so he has no idea what I'm talking about when I say "In a month" or "In a week" or even "10 more minutes." I keep saying it in the hopes one day it'll click but I don't know when that happens developmentally. An advent calendar wouldn't have any significance for him so I'll have to hold off on that for a while!
@mcewen3 - Does your 5 y/o understand the concept of time (like dates and how days pass and such)? Mine is only 3 so he has no idea what I'm talking about when I say "In a month" or "In a week" or even "10 more minutes." I keep saying it in the hopes one day it'll click but I don't know when that happens developmentally. An advent calendar wouldn't have any significance for him so I'll have to hold off on that for a while!
OMG, for the longest time, everything for my kid was 'last year'. A week ago was last year, a month ago was last year, yesterday was last year.
@wishiwaspreggo , she kind of does but not really. She knows a month is longer than a week, and that 10 minutes isn't a very long time (we've had to work on this particular one, she struggles with patience lol.) But if I say Christmas is a month away (or more) I'll still get asked on the daily. She will understand a countdown with the advent calendar though. The visual aide definitely helps. I may have to just make visual countdowns for all these big things. Even if its just a calendar that we cross dates off of every morning. She and my 3yo enjoy counting and problem solving, so it can actually be an educational way to pass the time, lol. Especially the countdown to Easter and eventually baby. I mean, neither of them could actually count that high but I'm sure it would be good practice.
@mcewen3 - Does your 5 y/o understand the concept of time (like dates and how days pass and such)? Mine is only 3 so he has no idea what I'm talking about when I say "In a month" or "In a week" or even "10 more minutes." I keep saying it in the hopes one day it'll click but I don't know when that happens developmentally. An advent calendar wouldn't have any significance for him so I'll have to hold off on that for a while!
OMG, for the longest time, everything for my kid was 'last year'. A week ago was last year, a month ago was last year, yesterday was last year.
That's my 3yo currently, except its usually yesterday, or last time. Neither one of my kids are pukers, but obviously we have got the stomach flu on occasion. DD2 got sick last November and for months and months whenever she was reminded of vomit in any way she would tell whoever was around her that she puked in her bed yesterday. The family member/friend/random acquaintance would then look at me and I would gently remind her that she did get sick one time but it was months ago.
So likeeee, if anyone wants to share their decor so I can steal it, please post pictures! I'm still going for a wintery vibe and not Christmas/holiday but I think there are elements that can be just wintery in everyone's decor.
YES @DuchessOfCambridge I was totally thinking we need another post (maybe after Thanksgiving?) to show off decor stuff. Or it can go here too if ppl already have it up!
@mcewen3 - Yeah, I think with kids that are like 5/6 an advent calendar is great because they'll get that time passes one day after the other with a visual. I bought an advent calendar for fun last year but my then 2-year old got frustrated that I wouldn't let him open every door for candy all at once. I have a feeling it would be the same battle this year. But yes, with older kids I imagine it's a great tool for counting and tracking days.
@wishiwaspreggo it is also totally dependent on the type of child you have. My older daughter has very little patience and would have gotten so frustrated for the same reason as your son at that age. But I don't foresee the same issue with my younger daughter. She has a different temperament and seems to understand limits a little better. I mean, she's still 3 and that comes with its own set of challenges, but this one in particular isn't as difficult for her to master as it was/is for her sister.
If you’re happy and you know it decorate in November 👏 👏 According to this article, decorating earlier signifies that you are a happier, less stressed person who is in touch with their inner child. Evidently it also makes you appear friendlier and more approachable to others.
I’ve been a grumpy bitch pregnant (I’m certainly not in a glowing glorious mood) but thinking about Christmas and getting excited to decorate this weekend makes me super happy!
Haha @mrskoz428 nothing like the Christmas spirit to snap us out of grumpy pregnant bitch mode. I've been too sick and uncomfortable to be glowy... it's just sweat and maybe a little vomit I missed 🤢here's to (hopefully) a less queasy (and cheerier) second trimester! I always say this is the best time to be pregnant bc the holidays push us through a whole trimester without having to think about it too much
Re: Holiday Decor
Veteran's Day in the US my started more as Rememberance Day is in Canada - honoring the Armistice Day for WWI ,but was then expanded to honor all Veterans of all wars, I think under Nixon. I agree with @eatinwatermelonseeds that Veteran's Day does seem to get more attention about honoring our Veterans now than Memorial Day. The parade in our town is much more somber for Veteran's Day than it is for Memorial Day, but still a lot of focus on those who have served and fallen for both holidays.
@sleepy33I was going to suggest the same advent calendars!
@eatinwatermelonseeds Yep, Restrepo is hard to watch. MH had me watch it too. He wasn't overseas, but he supported troops with Intelligence, and was often interactive with them. He had some really rough days when something went wrong for them. And thank you for your service!
@peachy13 I have tried investing in more Thanksgiving decor too. I like it! I adore Christmas, but I do like to enjoy the decoration smade for the holiday we are in. What I don't like though is packing and unpacking decorations each month for 3 months lol.
I always decorate the day after Thanksgiving. I get the tree up set up Thanksgiving night, and then we decorate the next day. That's how we've always done it, and I carried that tradition over to my own house.
All the inside stuff waits until after Thanksgiving
According to this article, decorating earlier signifies that you are a happier, less stressed person who is in touch with their inner child. Evidently it also makes you appear friendlier and more approachable to others.
https://www.narcity.com/life/if-you-put-up-your-christmas-decorations-in-november-youre-a-happier-person?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=jcoic_1daycampaign