Conscious Family Journal

Why Do We Celebrate Halloween?

As October winds down, we are just days away from Halloween.

Yippee. I think.

Tell me again, what exactly are we celebrating?

I have long nursed conflicting feelings about Halloween. At least most major holidays – Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Easter, 4^th of July – have a purpose. When those days roll around, I know what I am celebrating.

Halloween has always been more of a challenge for me. Somewhere between the ancient Celts, early Romans and modern day Americans, things seem to have gotten rather mixed up. Are we honoring our ancestors or hiding from malevolent spirits? Are we giving thanks for a good harvest or preparing for a dark and dangerous winter?

Autumn, Adoption and Ladybug Hugs

    

I am totally distracted.

 

I want to write, but the sun is shining and it is 65 degrees out! After the snow last week, this weather is downright irresistible.

 

And yes, I have been procrastinating. I went for a long walk in the crisp autumn air. Switched out my down vest for a sleeveless tee. Had some lunch. And finally, dragged my laptop out to the patio.

 

It is lovely out here.

  

They would say that we are “past peak,” foliage-wise. But that’s okay. The yellows and browns are almost as nice as the bright reds. And with more of the leaves fallen, I am better able to enjoy all the spindly white birch trunks swaying in the breeze.

     

Ahh.

 

So, what’s up with the lady bugs? They are everywhere... inside the house and outside in the yard. One is crawling across my computer screen right this second. Another just flew up and landed on my reading glasses.

  

Parenting Presence: How to Be There for Your Children

    

Greetings from the trenches. The boys are asleep early tonight. They are still recovering from a shared cold, which kept them in bed all last weekend... while trying to keep up with homework assignments and school projects.

   

One son stuck it out to the end, completing four pages of homework and studying for a French test before sliding between the sheets; the other fell unconscious with his face pressed to the computer keyboard.  

   

Oh well.

  

Tomorrow is another day. Next week is another week. Sooner or later, my children will get the education they need to function in the adult world. In the meantime, they need sleep.

   

And some extra hugs.

  

It’s been a draining week, but it has also been one filled with blessings and graceful moments. As I mentioned in my last post, there is real beauty in being present and doing what needs to be done to care for your children – even (especially) when “what needs to be done” is not particularly pretty.

  

Runny noses and vomit come to mind.

Cold & Flu Season: When Going With the Flow Is Your Only Option

  

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”    – John Lennon

  

   

What a glorious weekend in New England. The sun was shining. The leaves are turning from green to yellow to red. Acorns are dropping like raindrops (seriously... you have to be careful.) It was cool and blustery, but not uncomfortable.

   

Weather made to order for the extended Columbus Day weekend.

   

There were leaf-peepers everywhere, mixed in with college homecoming weekend crowds. And for those of us with school-aged children, there were soccer tournaments.

   

Yippee.

   

Last year was a bit easier... the boys were playing on the same team, so there was only one tournament to attend. This year, they are on separate teams, whose coaches inconveniently decided to participate in separate tournaments. My older son was slated to spend the weekend playing soccer about thirty minutes due south of here, while my younger son’s team was heading sixty minutes northeast.

  

Just one of the challenges of single parenting: How to be in two places at one time?

Parenting and Gratitude: There is always a reason to give thanks!

    

Sometimes parenting is all about slowing down and getting in touch with your blessings. Chances are good that you’ll remember lots of reasons for expressing a little gratitude.

   

Quick, what are you most thankful for today? Here’s my list.

   

1. My two children are healthy, growing up just a little each day and pretty much crazy as ever.

   

2. I just spent a wonderful “ladies weekend” with my mother and five of my eight sisters / sisters-in-law. Great company, great food and a really lovely hot stone massage. Mommy's happy. Woohoo.

   

3. My older son scored a goal at his soccer game on Saturday and he feels great about it.

 

4. My younger son is loving learning to speak French in school this year. C’est magnifique.

     

5. Our former nanny was able to make room in his schedule to spend Friday and Saturday with the boys, while I was away.

 

6. When the boys spent Sunday with their cousins and one of their cousins tried to bake cinnamon rolls on a paper plate in the microwave and the paper plate caught fire and the microwave started smoking and the police and fire departments showed up at the house, no one was injured. The house is fine, too. Not so sure about the microwave.