I am a kindergarten teacher. It’s not a glamorous job, my paycheck is practically pennies, and I spend many unpaid hours working at home and buying supplies out of my own pocket. But I can’t complain too much because I do get paid to enjoy 2 full weeks off for Christmas break.
As I’ve mentioned before, it’s been quite an adjustment going back to work after 6 years of being a full-time Domestic Engineer. The holidays have hit me hard because I’ve struggled to find the time (and energy!) to do all of the shopping, wrapping, baking, and Christmas card writing I’ve always done during the day. My nights and weekends are spent playing catch-up, and quite frankly, I’M EXHAUSTED! But I have less than one more week of work before I can truly relax and take the time to enjoy the holiday spirit.
There are so many things in my life that I’ve let slide since I went back to work, so many luxuries that I miss. But by the end of this week, I have the opportunity to get a taste of my former life as a Domestic Engineer (I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand the term “stay-at-home-mom” so I will forever use the term DE). So here are my…
Top 10 List of Things I Plan To Do During My Christmas Break
10) Make a word wall. I know this is work-related, but I’ve been wanting to make a word wall for my classroom since the start of school. I have very limited wall space in my classroom so I bought a trifold board to make a portable word wall. I just haven’t found the time to make it.
9) Shop online. I’ll have some Christmas money burning a hole in my pocket with plenty of time to figure out what I’m going to spend it on.
8) Watch movies. I love movies. But even when my husband and I sit down to watch the latest Netflix, I’m paying bills or writing lesson plans. I want to cuddle up on the couch and watch movies from start to finish without the lights on or a pen in hand.
7) Pamper myself. Something as minor as taking a long hot bath with a glass of wine or painting my toenails is enough to make me feel like a new woman.
6) Read magazines. I have 3 magazine subscriptions: Parents, Real Simple, and Military Spouse Magazine. I’m up to date on MSM (because really, you can read that magazine in 20 minutes). But I’m months behind on my beloved Parents and RS. I can’t wait to tear out craft ideas and recipes for next year’s Halloween!
5) Exercise. Please don’t hate me, but I’m 1 of those people who love working out. I used to go to the gym 5 or 6 days a week. Now I’m lucky if I squeeze in 2 work outs a week. Hopefully I can get myself back into a routine that will carry over after the new year.
4) Spend quality time with my kids. Since I returned to work, I feel like my kids have been short-changed on their mommy attention. It seems all I do with them lately are the necessities: homework, baths, meals. My kids need to see the fun mommy again, instead of the stressed-out-I-need-to-get-work-done mommy.
3) WRITE! I have so many ideas on my Brainstorming Bulletin Board (yes, I actually have a corkboard in my family room covered with ideas scribbled on Post-It notes), and I want to turn those ideas into blog posts.
2) Read at least 3 of the novels in the stack of books that have been piling up on my nightstand for the past 4 months.
1) Sleep. Vegetate. Sleep. Vegetate. Sleep. Vegetate. Sleep. Vegetate.
Do you have any big plans for your Christmas vacation?
I love your #1! 🙂
Since my hubby is coming home from deployment "soon", I plan on doing a lot of your #8, as well! 2 and 3 sound awesome but probably won't happen. We'll see.
I think my #1 will be just cherishing time with my family, whatever that will look like in the end.
I'll be at my parents' house so I intend on eating the dinners my mom cooks, relaxing without the Chihuahuas bouncing all over me, and having someone respond when I whine. It will be a nice change of pace. What's a word wall?
i like your last one sleep…vegetate haha funny.
I am with you on the movie one..i feel like i never truly sit down and watch a movie either.
Have fun!
I'm headed to Colorado to spend Christmas with my family, since my husband is deployed. All three of my sisters will be there, too! It's a rare occurrence because we all live in different states. I'm excited!
You still managed to get those xmas cards out before me! I still need to download the pictures and then order them! One of these days…
I think I will print out your list for my hubby – MY Christmas list! 🙂
I promise to not hate you for enjoying exercise…but could you possibly send a little of that enjoyment this way? I could use some! 🙂
Enjoy your break!
Looks like you have some great plans there! I love my MSM magazines too, they really are such a quick read! This Christmas, it will just be my love and myself. Low key, relaxed, and intimate!
Man, I wish I had two weeks off! But luckily I'm quitting my job for our move so it all works out! My plans are to move and pack my stuff (unfortunately) but who's to say I won't enjoy my time left with friends? It will be my first Christmas with my husband so I can't wait!