I don’t think I’d be the first mother to admit that when my kids were little, I couldn’t wait until the holidays were finally over, they returned to school, and we got back into the routine. Come the beginning of December I always remember anticipating the holiday traditions… making 3-C (carrots, cherries, and coconut) breads for neighbors and friends, dusting off the menorah, chopping down the tree, decorating the house, preparing the annual teacher’s tea of our house, and shopping and wrapping. But come mid-December all the excitement, anticipation, stress, and general upheaval started getting at me and then….Boom!!!! My head started pounding. When will this craziness stop already? Instead of singing, “Let It Snow…” I was silently mouthing the words, “Let it End, Let it End, Let it End already… Enough is enough.”

But now, many years down the road, it’s Jan. 2nd 2012 and I’m in a much different frame of mind. Let the festivities and “intended” feelings of the seasons (“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”) continue.

It’s not difficult to understand why the change in attitude. I’m in a completely different phase of my life. Look at me now…..

1. My kids are off, on their own, enjoying the holidays with their little ones. Checks have been mailed, love messages exchanged, and visits arranged for the near future.

2. I have complete freedom as to whom I choose to be with, what I do, and when I do it.

3. I’m surrounded by friends.

4. I’m living in paradise (Naples, FL) where I spent the holidays basking in the sun, swimming and boating in the Gulf.

I my opinion, it doesn’t get much better than this.

And to all you young mothers out there who may be envious (or not), a word to the wise…. This can be happen to you too.

But first, you may need to go through some ups and downs like I did along the way…. It was no easy journey and I certainly feel I now deserve my place in the sun so-to-speak. Here’s some of the high (I mean low) lights….

1. Divorce (X2 no less)

2. Single parenting

3. Dealing with “feisty” (you should only know) teenagers

4. Having my heart broken (romantically) a time or two

5. Feelings of vast loneliness at times

But, hey, I bit the bullet, tried to keep a positive attitude, surrounded myself with encouraging, upbeat people, and voila…somehow or other I got to where I am.

Attitude counts a whole lot in my book. To help, I keep a wall posted with adages that I refer to on an on-needed basis. Here’s one I’ll share to help make 2012 all it can be.

“We must let go of the life we planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.”