It's Christmas Eve, and the list is long, isn't it?
Are you still wrapping, or planning deliveries? Are you planning the menu tomorrow and making last trips to the grocery store? Is there a table to set, a last few errands to run? How long is your to-do list, and is there time on it for you?
It's crunch time, and instead of trying to push too much into the remaining day, are there things you can eliminate? Are there things that, while they would be nice, are just not that important in the grand scheme of things?
If you're the mom of the house, here's a telling question: Have you left enough time for yourself to take a shower? (Yes, I know, that was cruel. But we are always the last on our own list, and that's not good.)
Right now, sit down with your list. If you have presents to wrap, don't worry about bows or embellishments -- Christmas morning will be just as pretty and rambunctious without them. If you still held out hope that you'd find time to make cookies this afternoon, don't -- we've had sugar aplenty, and you can use the time better. Deliveries can be made on the 26th or after, because no one minds a gift that extends the holiday by a day.
If Christmas dinner is at your house, set the table tonight. Yes. tonight. That means you find enough forks and make sure there are enough glasses clean before your house is filled with company. Take grocery inventory, and if you're missing something, call someone who's coming and see if they can bring it with them.
You may not do any of the following today: Scrub the bathroom, wash linens, or clean anything that's not absolutely necessary for tomorrow. You may not add things to the menu or to the gift list. You may not berate yourself because you didn't get X or Y finished in time.
And if you think you'll be up all night helping Santa put that bike together, we have three more words for you: Take a nap!!!
Merry merry!