This holiday season, I can’t help but reflect on the past year.  There are no words to describe it,  so I only wish to pass on the positive mantras that have helped me, and my hope is that they  can help you, too.

1. Presence, not presents.  I am giving the gift of trips this holiday season with family  members to my children.  They will be spending time with their aunts and uncles and grandparents and cousins and visiting museums and zoos and baseball games and other fun events that will create memories.

2. Make time for your family.  Life is short, spend time with your family and friends as much as you can. Make memories.

3. Don’t sweat the little stuff.

4. Cherish your children.  Maybe they don’t speak.  Maybe they can’t communicate as well as you would like.  Maybe they don’t make progress as fast as you would like.  But your children are special.  Make them laugh.  Sing the same song over and over and over and over just because it makes them smile.

5. Sing loud.

6. Try and see something positive in everything, even if it’s hard.  

7. Wear crazy pants.

8. Wear red lipstick.

9. Say what you mean. Mean what you say.

10. Do your best.  When you fall asleep at night, know that you worked as hard as you could and helped make the world a little brighter.

11. Read books.

12. Make the best possible decisions with the information you have.  And don’t be upset if new information at a later date makes you change your mind.  Be flexible and understand that life is dynamic.

13. Eat healthy….most of the time.

14. Get outside and enjoy nature.  Go for a walk.  Hike a mountain.  Ride a bike.

15. Most of all do what makes you happy.  

Sometimes the questions are complicated but the answers are simple - Dr. Suess

The Holidays

In never fails, this time of the year I feel myself starting to wig out.  There is so much to do and so little time.  As you know there are gifts to be bought, cards to be mailed, presents to be wrapped, parties to attend, cookies to be made, decorations to be put out, dinners to host and the list goes on and on so it seems.  I just have to remind myself to do what I tell my students to do when they may feel a little over-whelmed………Take deep breathes, move around, get some big squeezes, go for a walk, swing, jump, listen to music and so on…I just step back and think about how our children must feel during the holiday season.  There are a lot of changes going on in their houses with friends and family coming over to visit.  Siblings are coming home from college.  There are different smells in the house with holiday foods being made.  Parents are busy preparing for people to come over to celebrate.  I can also imagine with all the excitement going on, that our children are staying up late past their bed times.  Although these changes may be fun and exciting to some, it is a very different schedule than what our children are used to.  With so much going on during this time of year, it is important to remind yourself of how our children are experiencing the holidays.  Take time, be patient, and enjoy this time with your family and friends!

What a great time of year for shopping, traveling and visiting with friends! It’s also a time for increased stress, decreased sleep and GERMS, GERMS, GERMS!
Here are a few tips for staying healthy during the holiday season:

 At school we always remind our students to wash their hands. Use warm water and lots of soap. Our kids sometimes like to sing Happy Birthday to keep time.  Keep antibacterial  sanitizer  handy for emergencies.

 Try and maintain a healthy sleep schedule. Avoid exercise and screen time right before bed.

 Remind your family to cover their coughs and sneezes with a tissue or their elbow.

 If you are not feeling well it is important to stay home. Viruses will spread quickly through crowds.

 Make To Do Lists to decrease stress. Stress will affect your immune system. 

 Take time for yourself. Relax and enjoy a favorite hobby or time with friends.

 Talk to your physician about a flu shot. It’s good to have the conversation to discuss pros and cons.

Here’s to a happy and healthy holiday season!

Nurse Mary