Navigating Post-Thanksgiving Chaos: Managing Family Time, Flag Football, and all the emotions

For anyone who caught my previous blog post where I was practically a ball of nerves over Thanksgiving, I bet you were on the edge of your seat (haha), but guess what? I survived the holiday in the flesh! I swallowed my anxiety, donned my trusty big girl pants (a.k.a. black leggings), and actually managed to have a good time with the fam for two whole nights. I definitely had some moments of weakness and discomfort but like I have said before, nothing I can do about it right now, best to take a beat and stay in the moment.

This year the family added a new addition to the Thanksgiving festivities with a flag football game the day after Thanksgiving. We all met at the East Quogue Park, split into two teams, each with their own matching team shirts to run off the huge turkey dinner from the night prior while sharing some laughs. I was the team photographer due to my current inability to move adequately. My kids were running around with smiles and filled with laughter. My husband was reliving his college football days, calling plays while having team huddles on the field.

I'm super grateful I didn't let my brain go all Houdini on me and skip out on Thanksgiving with the fam. Sure, it wasn't a walk in the park—there were some "why me" moments and a few tears, but the memories we made will be the ones that linger long after this circus leaves town; fingers crossed it's sooner rather than later. In the meantime, as a mom, wife, and friend, I've been cooking up all sorts of ways to make myself less of a hot mess while I try to steer through the madness.

Here's a nugget of wisdom I was as clueless about as a cat in a dog park until heart failure decided to crash my party about a year and a half ago. Learning to set boundaries hit me like milk hits a lactose-intolerant toddler. To me, boundaries are like invisible fences that keep everyone from stepping on each other's toes, creating a harmonious environment where personal space is as sacred as a hidden stash of chocolate. As challenging as it is for a mom to plan ahead (because, let's face it, kids are as predictable as a squirrel on caffeine), scheduling family fun like game nights or weekend adventures brings some much-needed order. It ensures we get those heartwarming moments together while also sneaking in some precious alone time to recharge our sanity batteries.

My other little sprinkle of fairy dust is the importance of Communication. This is something I definitely am NOT very good at as of yet. I tend to shut down and hold it all in like a 3-year-old refusing to go potty. I have noticed that when I do take time to process and utilize communication as a helpful tool it is definitely beneficial. Openness not only strengthens relationships but also reduces misunderstandings, most of the time. I am still working on the guts to say how I feel and be confident that however I feel is okay, judgement free. Let's be honest, truth is there will always be judgement, it is how I choose to react to the judgement that really matters. Truth is mamas, who flipping cares what others think as long as you are confident in the decisions, comments and ways you are processing the circumstances. I know, easier said than done, trust me, I am no expert just a woman riding the same struggle bus as everyone else on a daily basis.

After the Thanksgiving feast, or any holiday for that matter, it can feel like you’ve just survived a tornado of mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. But hey, it doesn’t have to be a total circus if you can just hang on to that tightrope and not plummet into the chaos below! I’m determined to keep trying to set some boundaries with my communication—sure, I might be flailing around like a fish out of water while doing it, but as I tell my kids, “The toughest things in life are usually the ones that pay off, like learning to ride a bike or not eating the entire pie in one sitting, as much as you want that sugary delight.

Now, focusing on the negatives? That’s a piece of cake—well, maybe not cake, since I’m trying to avoid that post-holiday sugar crash. Routines can take over like a toddler on a sugar high, and before you know it, you’re stuck in a loop of chores and responsibilities. It’s all too easy to get sucked into the black hole of negativity instead of basking in the sunshine of the positives. I’m no guru on handling these daily shenanigans; I’m just a mom sharing my rollercoaster ride of experiences—good, bad, or just plain boring—in hopes of helping another mom who’s feeling like she’s juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle. There’s always a reason to stress or complain, like my upcoming trip to the Mayo Clinic, but that’s a soap opera for another day.

So, let’s take the rest of the weekend to kick back and enjoy some family time. Working moms, it’s time to drop the phone and step away from those emails; I know, I know, it’s like asking a cat to take a bath. Let’s all make a pact to be present and turn these moments into memories—preferably ones that don’t involve cleaning up spilled cranberry sauce!

I am off to let the Rockstar Recovery in to give me an IV full of vitamins, while I relax on the couch! Trying all alternatives in hope of positive results.....keep your fingers crossed.