“AND THEY’RE OFF”…back to school after the holidays. From my texts and messages from some of you I see it is a mixed bag of feelings; from “I’m going to lose my shit” to “Loveliest holiday season ever”, every year this season brings it’s trials and tribulations. And then not to mention the goals we set as we enter January with lofty thoughts in mind…the holiday aftermath isn’t always so blessed.
My kids get so far out of routine on vacation, they generally like getting back to school, and yet the transition into the new half of the school year isn’t always so easy. Teachers start to put the ‘pedal to metal’ to reach academic milestones before school year end, whether consciously or unconsciously our children may start to feel the pressure. Our sleep schedule is totally off… and why is it still dark when we have to wake up?
But what really cracks me up is my stack of holiday pictures of happy families in clean tidy clothes, and tidings of comfort and joy, that stare at me and seem to say, “What are you going to do with us now?”… and that is the inspiration for my new year’s blog… is life really this happy???
Lest you begin to think my life with kids is copacetic full time just because I send out an annual happiness card, my oldest daughter and I thought we’d create our own awkward family photo diatribe in hopes we bring humor to your post holiday transition. Because of course being ‘down to earth’ about your parenting also means being realistic. Despite the myriads of perfect holiday cards with their perfect holiday pictures needing to be recycled this time of year, the grass is rarely greener whilst they came.
As a family with platinum status in the National ADHD club, (it is very heritable you know), my family has been through many versions of photo difficulties… Every ‘perfect’ photo, just like every so-called ‘perfect’ family, has had many takes before getting the perfect one… In fact, one year I just gave up and made a collage of all the blooper picks with tagline “Better Luck Next Year”… indeed, some years are just like that… we hope for better luck next year. And some years… well, the picture itself is the awkward history every family carries through the years.
My kids get so far out of routine on vacation, they generally like getting back to school, and yet the transition into the new half of the school year isn’t always so easy. Teachers start to put the ‘pedal to metal’ to reach academic milestones before school year end, whether consciously or unconsciously our children may start to feel the pressure. Our sleep schedule is totally off… and why is it still dark when we have to wake up?
But what really cracks me up is my stack of holiday pictures of happy families in clean tidy clothes, and tidings of comfort and joy, that stare at me and seem to say, “What are you going to do with us now?”… and that is the inspiration for my new year’s blog… is life really this happy???
Lest you begin to think my life with kids is copacetic full time just because I send out an annual happiness card, my oldest daughter and I thought we’d create our own awkward family photo diatribe in hopes we bring humor to your post holiday transition. Because of course being ‘down to earth’ about your parenting also means being realistic. Despite the myriads of perfect holiday cards with their perfect holiday pictures needing to be recycled this time of year, the grass is rarely greener whilst they came.
As a family with platinum status in the National ADHD club, (it is very heritable you know), my family has been through many versions of photo difficulties… Every ‘perfect’ photo, just like every so-called ‘perfect’ family, has had many takes before getting the perfect one… In fact, one year I just gave up and made a collage of all the blooper picks with tagline “Better Luck Next Year”… indeed, some years are just like that… we hope for better luck next year. And some years… well, the picture itself is the awkward history every family carries through the years.
| Oops, Mom didn't know she's chosen Judaism just yet....  | Someone wrecks almost every picture because the probability of 5 smiles is just damn low....  |
| Or pets want in on the action.....  | Many years when significant competition existed for who was the center of attention...  Years when sensory disorders were in our way...sometimes you just can't get comfortable... |
| Someone pulling hair.....  Tantrums.... |  |
 | When pajamas were formal attire.....  |
Have any awkward family photos with history all your own? Post if you’d like to share or just enjoy the reality of it all as we emerge back into the real world post holiday hubbub and attempt to embrace the new year… perhaps our only expectations should be the perfect imperfection life with children has to offer!!!
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