1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:05,880 Speaker 1: Hi. This is Laura Vandercamp. I'm a mother of five, 2 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:08,039 Speaker 1: an author, journalist, and speaker. 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 2: And this is Sarah hart Unger. I'm a mother of three, 4 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 2: a practicing physician and blogger. On the side, we are 5 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:17,440 Speaker 2: two working parents who love our careers and our families. 6 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to best of both worlds. Here we talk about 7 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,360 Speaker 1: how real women manage work, family, and time for fun, 8 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: from figuring out childcare to mapping out long term career goals. 9 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: We want you to get the most out of life. 10 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:35,640 Speaker 1: Welcome to best of both worlds. This is Laura. In 11 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:38,559 Speaker 1: this episode, we're going to be talking about how we 12 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 1: should not simplify the holidays. We're being a little bit 13 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 1: contrarian here, but first of all, this is airing December fifth, 14 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: which is my birthday, So I'll celebrate how I want 15 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: to by not simplifying the holidays. 16 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 2: Yes, that seems completely appropriate. Do you like having a 17 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 2: December birthday? Yes? 18 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:04,480 Speaker 1: I do, And the reason is because everybody is already 19 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 1: feeling festive, and so you can kind of piggyback on that. 20 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 1: Like there's fun stuff going on. There's often big parties 21 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 1: like the weekend before and after my birthday that I 22 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 1: might be going to. So even if it's not my 23 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: birthday party, you know, you still have an excuse to 24 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 1: get dressed up and go to something. If you want 25 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: to go to fun community events, there are all sorts 26 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: of fun community events. You don't have to hunt for 27 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 1: stuff to do in a way that you might like 28 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 1: the first week of March, whereas December there's all sorts 29 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 1: of stuff and so you don't have to find things 30 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 1: to do. You can just kind of have the fun 31 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 1: of the holidays around. Now that said, I am three 32 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 1: weeks before Christmas. My youngest child's birthday is just a 33 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 1: couple days after Christmas, so that might be worse because 34 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: then everyone's like done with it at that point and 35 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: you just, you know, your present receiving occasions, which is 36 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: always a big thing for little kids, are so cram 37 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 1: to gather in the calendar year, and then there's nothing 38 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: for the rest of it. So he may not like 39 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 1: it as much, but we will see. We will see, 40 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: because on the other hand, we will always be off 41 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 1: work for his birthday. We will always be doing something fun, 42 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 1: whether we're traveling or hosting relatives. So you know, on 43 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: some level, there are upsides too, and. 44 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 2: Kids don't really get tired of getting presents, so that 45 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:24,079 Speaker 2: should not be a problem, Like. 46 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 1: We get presents again, but you know, your siblings might 47 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 1: be getting presents then too, if you have relatives visiting 48 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:32,639 Speaker 1: right after the holidays and you're exchange of gifts, that 49 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: it's not like it's you alone. So I think that 50 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: might be. We'll see. 51 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 2: We have a big December training birthdays too. We got you, 52 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 2: then we got Josh who is turning forty nine, and 53 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 2: then Genevieve was turning six like three days after that, 54 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 2: so it's like definitely a big birthday month. I'm already 55 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 2: trying to think about like fiftieth birthday that'll come in 56 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:55,720 Speaker 2: a year, in a. 57 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: Year, that's true. Well, you know, unless he does he 58 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:01,359 Speaker 1: have big design for his fiftieth. I mean, is there 59 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: something he's been saying, Oh, I should do this for 60 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 1: my fiftieth. 61 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 2: Not really, but I feel like he's going to want 62 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 2: to do something and maybe I can make up for 63 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 2: the fact that my fortieth was May of twenty twenty 64 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:12,959 Speaker 2: and was no real fun at all. 65 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 1: No fun at all, no fun whatsoever. Well, yeah, I mean, 66 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: we we have some plans for this. I'll maybe talk 67 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 1: about them in a future episode. This is not a 68 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 1: true milestone birthday for me. I guess it's a semi 69 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 1: mile soton birthday. But I remember I threw a small 70 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 1: party for my thirty fifth many years ago, which was 71 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 1: in a restaurant here in town, and then it there 72 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: was a blizzard, like there's literally a blizzard. So we 73 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: had a lot of people who couldn't come in, who 74 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: are trying to come in from other places that were 75 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 1: more than like ten minutes away. So we had some 76 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: friends who made it from New York and so bless them, 77 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 1: they're good friends. But yeah, no, celebrating in December is great. 78 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: And you know, there are a lot of magazine stories 79 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 1: and features nowadays in December, always about like how to 80 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 1: simplify the holidays, and simplifies one of those words that 81 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: clicks really really well, like if you see what people 82 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: search for, what they click on. And I think the 83 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 1: story is that we're all so overextended during the holidays. 84 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: Here are fit ways to, you know, do less of 85 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: it or whatever. But on some level, I mean, most 86 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:27,919 Speaker 1: people are not truly that busy. I mean in life 87 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: in general, it's like it's okay to be a little 88 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,679 Speaker 1: busier for a little while, especially if you are doing 89 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: fun things with the upside that you are making memories. 90 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:40,279 Speaker 1: Like in general, people are a good use of time. 91 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:43,679 Speaker 1: That is one of our kernal beliefs here at best 92 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:47,359 Speaker 1: of both worlds. And also that life is worth the 93 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: bother because there's no prize for like getting to the 94 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 1: end of your life and being like woohoo, I saved 95 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 1: up all my energy, Like now what, so you know 96 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: it's it's it's okay to be a little tired some days. 97 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,600 Speaker 1: It's okay to be a little busy some days if 98 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: you are doing things that you like. And I find 99 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:10,159 Speaker 1: that I generally draw energy from enjoyable things. 100 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I do feel like this is a 101 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:16,919 Speaker 2: busy season for some But at the same time, a 102 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 2: lot of the things that tend to fill our calendars 103 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 2: do tend to get a little more sparse as you 104 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:23,600 Speaker 2: really get closer to the holidays, which leaves room for 105 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:25,600 Speaker 2: more of that fun stuff. And I agree if you're 106 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 2: just sort of like waiting for it to get sparse 107 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 2: so you can just like breathe, you might miss out 108 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 2: on some really fun opportunities to celebrate with others and 109 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 2: just enjoy life and use some of that open time 110 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 2: for things that might be seen as frivolous, but like 111 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 2: that's what life's about. As you said, like what's the 112 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 2: point of anything, Then. 113 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:43,719 Speaker 1: What's the point of anything true? 114 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:44,039 Speaker 2: True? 115 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 1: Like few at least I'm well rested. I didn't do 116 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:49,360 Speaker 1: anything this Christmas, but at least I'm well rested. Well, 117 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:51,799 Speaker 1: you know, And to be clear, we are not saying, 118 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: you know, like go into debt for presents, like don't 119 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 1: go over the top on some of this. And you know, 120 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:57,840 Speaker 1: there's no point in filling the holidays with stuff no 121 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 1: one wants to do, but you certainly can do a 122 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 1: lot of fun stuff in December or whatever December holidays 123 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: you happen to celebrate. So step number one, make a 124 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:13,600 Speaker 1: holiday fun list? Do you do this at all? 125 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 2: Sarah? 126 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: I mean, I see you know you guys, I mean 127 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 1: we're maybe we should back up you guys. Pseudos celebrate 128 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 1: like the secular version of parts of Christmas. 129 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 2: Yeah. I don't know that I've ever like specifically discussed this, 130 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:30,840 Speaker 2: but like I grew up with a lot of Christmas 131 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 2: music and Christmas movies and things like that, and I 132 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:35,919 Speaker 2: think the root of that because we're Jewish, but my 133 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 2: father's family was like they were Philadelphians and they were 134 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 2: very much into like assimilation culture back in the day, 135 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 2: and so it was cool to like have a tree 136 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 2: and have presence and celebrate the holiday. And I think 137 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 2: even Josh has like one aunt who always throws like 138 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 2: a big Christmas. So there's this there's like interesting crossover. 139 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 2: And so I do enjoy some of the very like 140 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:59,599 Speaker 2: classic American Christmas type traditions because like they I did 141 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 2: do them, so I still want to do them. So 142 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 2: that's kind of interesting. But at the same time, Christmas, 143 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 2: as like a religious holiday, is not meaningful for us, 144 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 2: so we have our own kind of family hana good 145 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 2: traditions as well. So I definitely feel like there are 146 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 2: enough things that are meaningful to me in this season. 147 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 2: Plus I love New Year's. Love New Years that comprising 148 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 2: a holiday fun list is not a challenge for me. 149 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 2: I want to hear yours, though you're like a you're 150 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 2: like a ninja. 151 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 1: Holiday fun list maker I am, which again, it's you know, 152 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 1: in this like don't simplify the holidays kind of thing. 153 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: You know, there's so many fun things to do, and 154 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: I think we should try to do as many of 155 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 1: them as we can. So every year I make a 156 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:44,680 Speaker 1: holiday fun list and this is the things that I 157 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: want to do or I want my family to do 158 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 1: over the course of sort of Thanksgiving to New Years 159 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: that will make this time feel memorable and fun for us. 160 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 1: So every year I post this on my blog. This year, 161 00:07:58,240 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 1: there are a couple of things that are you know, 162 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 1: there's some stand bys. I always love to go see 163 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 1: the Nutcracker, the Ballet. Since I've started singing in a 164 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 1: choir again about six years ago, I'm always singing in 165 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 1: Christmas Eve services and usually in a Christmas choir concert 166 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: as well. The kids are often in our church Christmas pageant, 167 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 1: which is fun. I like to go see a couple 168 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 1: of outdoor light displays. Longwood gardens around here is always good. 169 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 1: There's one we've started going to recently called Tinseltown that 170 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 1: is just really cool, like lots of shapes of lights 171 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: that can be really fun for little kids as well. 172 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:38,080 Speaker 1: We do some things like create the Lego Christmas set 173 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: of the Year, whatever it is. It's this alpine house 174 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 1: this year, so Sam and Ruth and I have been 175 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 1: putting that together. We do family Christmas pajamas that we 176 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:49,559 Speaker 1: open usually on the twenty fourth, so we can all 177 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: wear those open overnight and open our presence on Christmas morning, 178 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:57,200 Speaker 1: all wearing the same pajamas. Some children love this, some 179 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 1: tolerate it, but we have sort of that and you know, 180 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:05,560 Speaker 1: reading Christmas stories with the little kids and I this 181 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 1: year where we are adding going to the Rockets. I 182 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 1: have never seen the Rockets show in Radio City Music Hall, 183 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:15,560 Speaker 1: but if life goes according to plan this year, I will, 184 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:19,199 Speaker 1: so that will be crossed off the list. How about you, 185 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 1: what's on your list this year? 186 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, so my like weird hybrid list. So I also 187 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:27,320 Speaker 2: love the Nutcracker. We haven't gone for a number of years. 188 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 2: I remember taking Annabelle when she was back when she 189 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 2: was doing ballet back in Miami, and now she's doing 190 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 2: it again. So we're going as a whole family in Miami, 191 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:37,960 Speaker 2: and I'm super excited about that. I love Getty. I mean, 192 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 2: this is like doesn't sound like a tradition, but it 193 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:41,440 Speaker 2: is because we do it and we kind of like 194 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 2: have fun with it. But Chinese takeout on Christmas proper 195 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 2: big family tradition. The restaurants in my area, I get 196 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,079 Speaker 2: so busy. You need to order at like four PM 197 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 2: or the night before, because so many people do that 198 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:56,679 Speaker 2: around here, so it's kind of interesting. I love to 199 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 2: watch the Charlie Bone Christmas Special, so I'll watch that 200 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 2: with the kids. I love holiday music starting around Thanksgiving. 201 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 2: Like you can't play the Mariah Carrey song too many times. 202 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 2: All My favorite song is Christmas Rappings by the Waitresses. 203 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:10,760 Speaker 1: So there's that. I don't know that gonna, yes you do. 204 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:13,440 Speaker 2: That's Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas. I think I missed this 205 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 2: one this year. 206 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: Really, Oh my god, I may not. 207 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 2: Wow wow, Oh, Okay, we'll play that. We'll play it 208 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 2: on a future episode. 209 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:22,319 Speaker 1: And I'm just kidding, Okay. 210 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 2: I like to do cards. I like, I mean, I enjoy, 211 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 2: I don't. I don't love gifting like we do Hanukah 212 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 2: as a family. And we'll talk more about gifts later, 213 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 2: but I guess that's a tradition. We do Latkas and 214 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 2: Hanukkah gift exchange with my like Miami family, which is 215 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 2: really really fun. And then New Year's we try to 216 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:43,559 Speaker 2: do something in Miami. If my husband's not working, he 217 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 2: almost always has to work New Year's because working Christmas 218 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 2: is actually very popular down here, and it's it's hard 219 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 2: to get I know it's backwards, right, but this year 220 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:55,360 Speaker 2: he is working Christmas, which means we're off from the year, 221 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 2: so we're actually going to sleep over in Miami Beach 222 00:10:57,520 --> 00:10:59,560 Speaker 2: and then I'm so looking forward to like waking up 223 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 2: on January first, going for a run to the beach. 224 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:03,679 Speaker 2: So super exciting. 225 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, run on the beach around here on January first 226 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: to be a really terrible, terrible experience. The upside of Florida, right, Yes, 227 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:15,679 Speaker 1: many upsides of Florida. There's competition for taking the Christmas 228 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: working slot and you get to run on the beach 229 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:20,719 Speaker 1: on New Year's we will not have any of that, 230 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 1: but we are. We're staying around here this year and 231 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 1: we are going to host some family right after Christmas, 232 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:31,680 Speaker 1: so that will be good. So gifts and I recognize 233 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 1: you as we're thinking about this and telling planning gifts. 234 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:37,679 Speaker 1: Hannik is actually starting pretty soon, like within the week, 235 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: correct from when this is airing? Really, oh, put this 236 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 1: on your list from when it's airing. Okay, yeah, I remember, No, no, 237 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 1: not from when we're recording it, because November, Sarah, I 238 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:51,080 Speaker 1: was like, I'm behind on my shopping. No, sorry, it 239 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 1: starts panic there. 240 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 2: It starts right around Genevieve's birthday this year, so which 241 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 2: she has told us many a time she needs her 242 00:11:58,679 --> 00:11:59,560 Speaker 2: separate presence. 243 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:01,839 Speaker 1: But oh really, so how does she feel about that? 244 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 1: Because she also then her birthday is almost always going 245 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 1: to overlap with Yeah, she's not thrilled. 246 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 2: I mean, but I'm not thrilled about my birthday being 247 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 2: smacked between my anniversary and Mother's Day. 248 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:13,800 Speaker 1: So we take what we get. We take what we get, 249 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: We get what we get, and we don't get upset. 250 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 1: But how do you guys handle the gifts for that? 251 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: Do you do stuff for all eight nights then? 252 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:22,439 Speaker 2: Or we do? We do? I mean the kids kind 253 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:24,319 Speaker 2: of like insist on it. Last year, we told the 254 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 2: kids we're going to Montana, this is a very big trip. 255 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 2: We're going to be more minimal, and they were like 256 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 2: really grumbly about it. And this year, we're not going 257 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:32,559 Speaker 2: anywhere fancy or fantastic for that trip. So I think 258 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 2: they're expecting, they're. 259 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:36,439 Speaker 1: Expecting you to kind of top it up in that category. 260 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 2: But what I do to make it a little bit 261 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 2: more reasonable is I use family gifts for some of 262 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 2: the nights. So if my parents send something that's one 263 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 2: of the nights. If we have a Hanaga party with 264 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 2: my in laws, that's one of the nights. So that 265 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:50,000 Speaker 2: might mean that Josh and I are only supplying like 266 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 2: four or five gifts instead of eight, and then they're 267 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 2: not all large gifts like usually there's book night. Sometimes 268 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 2: if the kids have bought one for each other, like 269 00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 2: that can be a night, and then usually try to 270 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 2: get like one kind of more substantial thing for each kid. 271 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: Okay, is that like the eighth night? Then how does 272 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: that work? Is that it's kind of random. 273 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 2: We might even ask them like do you want your 274 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:11,120 Speaker 2: big gift now? Do you want you know, your grandparents' 275 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:12,319 Speaker 2: gift tonight or whatever? 276 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you said that Annabel had a Google doc 277 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: of her requests. 278 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 2: Annamel's Google doc is like awesome, because I mean, I 279 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 2: just think she has good taste. I'm not going to, like, 280 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 2: you know, share too many specifics because you can't do that, 281 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 2: but I would gladly accept almost anything on her personal 282 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 2: list as a gift for me. And that's like a 283 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 2: marker of maturity and good taste, I guess. So I 284 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 2: was pretty impressed. And then she helped gen of you 285 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 2: make a Google doc so I think will be kind 286 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:43,719 Speaker 2: of like in a good shape in terms of like 287 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:46,559 Speaker 2: having a lot of guidance as to what they want. 288 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 2: I am trying to see if anybody wants any kind 289 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 2: of experiential gift, Like people have expressed interest in like 290 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 2: seeing Olivia Rodrigo in concert, and that is not cheap. 291 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 2: So I'm like, well, that could be a good Hanukah gift, 292 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:00,960 Speaker 2: but we'll see. 293 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, because you haven't really done that so much like 294 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:04,559 Speaker 1: the experience gift does a gift. 295 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 2: Now, I've never really done it, but I feel like 296 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 2: they're getting to the ages where that would make a 297 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:08,920 Speaker 2: little bit more sense. 298 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, I really think that's a good gift for tweens 299 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,719 Speaker 1: and teens, and they get harder to buy stuff for. 300 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 1: Obviously some kids like clothes or there may be some 301 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,480 Speaker 1: sort of electronic thing they have their eye on. But 302 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 1: given that, you're probably not going to just be able 303 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 1: to go to Target and find six toys that they'd 304 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:29,400 Speaker 1: be happy with at that age. Coming up with some 305 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 1: sort of experience that they are really excited about can work. 306 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 1: And so I know Jasper, for instance, has asked for 307 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 1: a trip to New York City. He wants it longer 308 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 1: this year, it's upping the game. Last year he wanted 309 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 1: to go to a Broadway show and also be able 310 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 1: to take a friend, so he was able to do that. 311 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:51,040 Speaker 1: Last year as his present, Sam and I went to 312 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: Acadia National Park. We went to Bar Harbor, Maine and 313 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 1: had lobster and hiked in Acadia and that was a 314 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 1: lot of fun to do. Ruth has expressed some interest 315 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 1: in having an experience gift, but I don't know that 316 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: she's narrowed it down to what she would like to 317 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 1: ask for this year, so we'll see if she winds 318 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: up putting that on the list as well. We have 319 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 1: a couple of rules for it. One is that everyone 320 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 1: has to unwrap about the same number of things, and 321 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 1: this requires more effort than you might imagine to make 322 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: a list of Like, Okay, this person has seven things 323 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: wrapped up. Uh, oh, this person only has five. We 324 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: need to find some other little thing that they can 325 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 1: wrap up just to keep it even. I wrap everyone 326 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:37,160 Speaker 1: in different paper, so every person in the family has 327 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 1: their own color. Michael and I share a color, Sarah. 328 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 1: Do you wrap things up? 329 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 2: Do we wrap things up? Some things get wrapped, like 330 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 2: when I get stuff for my niece and nephew because 331 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 2: when we have that little party usually it's just customary 332 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 2: to wrap things. But we don't always wrap the stuff 333 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 2: for the kids. I think Josh likes to wrap it. 334 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 2: I grew up not having things wrapped, so everything was 335 00:15:58,200 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 2: hidden and you only got one thing at a time, 336 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 2: so there was almost as much fanfare in like sitting 337 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 2: there and waiting for your parents to come out and like, 338 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 2: you know, pop it in your face versus having to 339 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 2: unwrap it. So I'm not always into wrapping the kids 340 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 2: gifts because it's like one extra step and I think 341 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 2: it works okay without it again because it's this one 342 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 2: at a time thing anyway, but we do wrap it 343 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 2: for certain other events. 344 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean I wouldn't naturally wrap stuff, but I 345 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: kind of feel like it's the final step that makes 346 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 1: it seem special, and especially if you put a lot 347 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 1: of pretty bows on it. I mean, it's just more 348 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 1: fun to get a present that's got lots of little 349 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 1: bows and things on it. It's the aesthetic experience as well. 350 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 1: So remembering that, I try to wrap things up somewhat 351 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 1: nicely for all the kids. But in terms of the 352 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:49,240 Speaker 1: cost of the gifts, do you manage this if like 353 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 1: each kid gets the same roughly price amount or how 354 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: do you do that? 355 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 2: I feel it well, a lot of this Josh did 356 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:01,080 Speaker 2: last year, so like this is often like vertical ownership 357 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 2: thing where I'm like, you're in charge of gifts and 358 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 2: it's worked pretty well. So harder for me to answer, 359 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 2: but I feel like he does try to make it 360 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 2: pretty approximately close. I don't think he tries to like 361 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 2: match it exactly, but I feel like I feel like 362 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:14,960 Speaker 2: he does try to make it pretty even. 363 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 1: So the way I view it more because I mean, 364 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 1: little kid gifts are just cheaper than big kid gifts 365 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:25,679 Speaker 1: almost always, and so you know, Henry could get huge 366 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: toys and it still would not equal the cost of 367 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:30,159 Speaker 1: a trip to New York City. I mean, that's just 368 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:33,879 Speaker 1: the reality of it. But I do want at least 369 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:37,239 Speaker 1: one present for each kid that they're like wow, you 370 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:39,359 Speaker 1: know that they feel like it was a big thing, 371 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:43,159 Speaker 1: and so that might be a different price level for 372 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 1: each kid, but it's something that they are really excited 373 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: about receiving. I know that my in laws, when my 374 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:54,640 Speaker 1: husband and his three siblings were growing up, would make 375 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:58,480 Speaker 1: it exactly even, like to the point where if they 376 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:01,240 Speaker 1: spent less on one kid, they would like give them 377 00:18:01,359 --> 00:18:06,040 Speaker 1: the dollar difference between what they spent, which I find interesting. 378 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 1: You know, I guess that's that's one way to keep 379 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:10,399 Speaker 1: it very very on the even. 380 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 2: I don't think we spend equal amounts on the kids ever, 381 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:15,880 Speaker 2: so like why would a holiday you know what I mean, 382 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 2: Like everyone gets what they need, but there's certainly no like, oh, 383 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:22,760 Speaker 2: your piano lessons were more expensive than your ballet class, 384 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:25,199 Speaker 2: so I'll increase hair allowance to compensate. 385 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:27,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, no, that's true. Stuff like that. It would be 386 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 1: harder to make even in any sort of way. One 387 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 1: thing we've we've tried it. 388 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,159 Speaker 2: We've not taken a break yet. So we love this 389 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 2: gift conversation so much that we could keep going. But 390 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 2: we're going to be right back in just. 391 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:54,879 Speaker 1: A couple of bee back. Well, we are back talking 392 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:59,399 Speaker 1: about presents for December holidays, whatever holidays you happen to 393 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:03,280 Speaker 1: celebrate this time of year, especially if they involve gift giving. 394 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 1: One thing we've been trying to do, which is I 395 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:11,679 Speaker 1: mean you guys naturally have with Hanukkah over eight nights, 396 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 1: is spreading stuff out a little bit, because if you know, 397 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 1: you don't get gifts for months and months, and then 398 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:19,880 Speaker 1: you open everything on Christmas morning. It's almost a little 399 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: bit overwhelming. So we tend to have the kids give 400 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 1: each other sibling gifts, which then they open on a 401 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:31,960 Speaker 1: different day. The gifts from grandparents get opened when they 402 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:35,920 Speaker 1: see said grandparents, so that's either before or after Christmas, 403 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 1: but whenever we see those people, that's when we'll open them. 404 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:43,400 Speaker 1: Sometimes we just you know, we open the Christmas pajamas 405 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 1: on the twenty fourth so we can all wear them 406 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:49,120 Speaker 1: that night and then the next morning, So that kind 407 00:19:49,119 --> 00:19:50,919 Speaker 1: of helps to spread it out a little. 408 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:53,439 Speaker 2: That kind of makes sense because I mean, honestly, you 409 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 2: can't play with everything at once anyway, so I always 410 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:57,320 Speaker 2: kind of wondered about that, and it can be a 411 00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 2: little bit overwhelming to just have like a gift daily, 412 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 2: like a little tit. Yeah. 413 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 1: Well, we've had to take breaks at different times too, 414 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 1: I mean, so they open their stockings first thing, then 415 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 1: we have breakfast, then we start opening presents, and often, 416 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:15,440 Speaker 1: especially if the little kids are playing with stuff that 417 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,120 Speaker 1: they don't want to stop playing with whatever they just opened, 418 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:20,719 Speaker 1: we may pause for a while and come back to 419 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:23,439 Speaker 1: it an hour later. When everyone's a little bit more like, Okay, 420 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 1: now we'll do the next round. I know people have 421 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:28,440 Speaker 1: even had to put stuff away and open it later 422 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:31,439 Speaker 1: days just because their kids are so into whatever it 423 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:34,879 Speaker 1: is that they open that everything else will be forgotten. 424 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:37,879 Speaker 1: And you know, if it's not put it at a 425 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:40,520 Speaker 1: different time. So yeah, depends the age of the kids, 426 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 1: but that's definitely happened to us. 427 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:46,159 Speaker 2: So sibling gifts, you guys have kind of a complex. 428 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 2: Five is a lot because that mean each person is 429 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:54,080 Speaker 2: buying four gifts. That can kind of the multiplication like 430 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:56,680 Speaker 2: it gets high fast exponentially. 431 00:20:56,840 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: Really as well, it's yes, four three two, No, it's 432 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:07,280 Speaker 1: each person buying four. So yes, that does a lot. Funny, No, yes, 433 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:11,639 Speaker 1: it is twnny I have something like that. Yeah, true, 434 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:15,879 Speaker 1: So that is a lot of gifts, which is one 435 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 1: reason to spread them out, have it on a different 436 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 1: day than the Christmas morning sort of thing. And I 437 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:26,000 Speaker 1: wind up taking this on as sort of I mean, 438 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 1: the older kids can take cash into Target, can do 439 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 1: it themselves, right, like buy this for this person and 440 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:38,920 Speaker 1: go to the checkout aisle and do it themselves, and 441 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:42,639 Speaker 1: so on some level, it doesn't need to involve me, 442 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:44,080 Speaker 1: but they do sort of ask me like do you 443 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 1: think you'd like that? So I sent right up standing 444 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:48,919 Speaker 1: there in target with three or four kids, depending on 445 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:52,400 Speaker 1: what it is. And it's a lot, and. 446 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 2: Then you have to prevent them from seeing what each 447 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:55,400 Speaker 2: other is checking out. 448 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:57,960 Speaker 1: I guess it is. But then I had this idea 449 00:21:58,000 --> 00:21:59,480 Speaker 1: one year of like, well, let's just do it as 450 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 1: a secret san a gift exchange, right, like everyone will 451 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 1: get somebody's name out of a hat, and you know, 452 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:05,679 Speaker 1: like you would do if you were working in an 453 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 1: office maybe with five people, right, like you'd all draw ning. 454 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 1: And it brought out all the worst in my children's 455 00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:17,600 Speaker 1: like personalities, Like literally within two minutes, everybody knew who 456 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:20,840 Speaker 1: had who they were complaining about, Like that person's not 457 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 1: going to think about it for me, Like they don't 458 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:25,440 Speaker 1: get anyway it didn't go well. 459 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:29,000 Speaker 2: They don't have the maturity of office workers and they 460 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:30,359 Speaker 2: are not able to hold back. 461 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 1: They're not able to hold back on it. So we 462 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 1: just did everybody uys for everyone. I'm pretty sure we'll 463 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 1: do that again this year, which means that I'll wind 464 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 1: up maybe I think I think I would have Michael 465 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:44,680 Speaker 1: Handel Henry because then he could just you know, then 466 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:47,159 Speaker 1: he's just shopping with him. And but the problem is 467 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:49,240 Speaker 1: chopping with the little kid is they don't have the 468 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:52,600 Speaker 1: emotional intelligence to think about what somebody else wants to be. 469 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 1: Like Jasper wants Plato, and so it is Ruth, and 470 00:22:57,080 --> 00:23:01,240 Speaker 1: so does everyone. Everyone wants Plato this year. I wonder 471 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:07,439 Speaker 1: what Henry wants for Christmas. That's the thought that counts, 472 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:09,439 Speaker 1: sort of the thought that counts. I mean, well, I 473 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:12,680 Speaker 1: gotta say. Ruth wears a dress that Alex bought her 474 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 1: with some help from me. But we were looking and 475 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:18,160 Speaker 1: he was like, I want to get Ruth some clothes. 476 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 1: I know she likes these clothes, and so we looked 477 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:22,239 Speaker 1: at it and shows a dress together, and she loves it. 478 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 1: She still wears it. So that is excellent for adults 479 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:31,239 Speaker 1: shopping for adults. So you might consider a gift of 480 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 1: the year for people who are not kids. And on 481 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 1: some of this sounds like, oh, now we're going back 482 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:37,800 Speaker 1: into simplifying the holidays, which this episode is all about 483 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 1: not simplifying the holidays. But I will actually say that 484 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:43,640 Speaker 1: this might wind up working better because in many cases, 485 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:46,560 Speaker 1: if it's something that you truly like and enjoy and 486 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:49,200 Speaker 1: then you find a way to personalize it for everyone. 487 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 1: It just narrows the options a little bit from the 488 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 1: entire universe of gift options where you might accidentally go awry, 489 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:01,280 Speaker 1: to a more narrow category that everyone's generally gonna like, 490 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:04,200 Speaker 1: and you can personalize within it. So, for instance, maybe 491 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:06,879 Speaker 1: everybody gets a nice umbrella, but different colors because you 492 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:09,080 Speaker 1: know all your friends and families favorite colors, and you 493 00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:11,840 Speaker 1: find it in that everyone gets a fleece, Like one 494 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:15,600 Speaker 1: year I gave everybody fleeces from American Giant and just 495 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:19,560 Speaker 1: chose different colors for different people. Everyone gets an ll 496 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:23,199 Speaker 1: Bean boat bag because who doesn't love Llban boat bags? 497 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:26,119 Speaker 1: And then you could put gifts in it, right, little 498 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 1: tiny gifts that people might like that are personal to them. 499 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:33,120 Speaker 1: But then you're not thinking like, oh does my aunt 500 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:35,080 Speaker 1: what should I get my aunt? You're like, well, which 501 00:24:35,119 --> 00:24:37,240 Speaker 1: boat bag would my aunt like? And of things that 502 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:39,919 Speaker 1: you can put in a boat bag, what would my 503 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:43,160 Speaker 1: aunt be most excited about? Right, So it just makes 504 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:46,160 Speaker 1: it a little bit more streamlined. So that's one way 505 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:46,560 Speaker 1: to do it. 506 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 2: We don't do a lot of adult gift buying, like, yes, 507 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:55,000 Speaker 2: we give Christmas like or holiday bonuses or like cash 508 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:58,480 Speaker 2: to lots of like staff type people r nanny or 509 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:01,400 Speaker 2: teachers or things like that. But like the adult gift 510 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:04,040 Speaker 2: buying is very limited in my sphere. But when I 511 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 2: do have to do it, I love. I love the 512 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:08,679 Speaker 2: standardized idea, and I love consumable stuff, like you know, 513 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 2: like a pretty fruit basket with like gourmet food items 514 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 2: because then you know, like, you know, who's not going 515 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 2: to like that, like if you get something that actually 516 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 2: tastes good and is good or like, I don't know, 517 00:25:19,119 --> 00:25:21,240 Speaker 2: Like I mean, gift cards are always nice. I was 518 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:23,159 Speaker 2: saying if I was a jillionaire, Like if I was 519 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:25,359 Speaker 2: really a billionaire, I would be stow upon everyone I know, 520 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:27,000 Speaker 2: like a massage gift card somewhere good. 521 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:31,080 Speaker 1: You know, Well, it's if you think about the universe 522 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:33,200 Speaker 1: of people you do give gifts, so it's not that huge, 523 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:35,760 Speaker 1: and it's like you wouldn't actually have to be a jillionaire, 524 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:38,280 Speaker 1: not that you necessarily do it, like it might not 525 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:39,920 Speaker 1: be a budgetary priority. But I always think of this 526 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 1: when people like total tangent here. But with Halloween, sometimes 527 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:48,520 Speaker 1: people like oh, you know, go to like the mansion 528 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:50,720 Speaker 1: where they might be handing out full sized candy bars. 529 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:53,760 Speaker 1: It's like, actually, full sized candy bars are not that expensive. 530 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:55,399 Speaker 1: You wouldn't have to be living in a mansion to 531 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:57,400 Speaker 1: give out full sized candy bars. You'd have everyone think 532 00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:01,440 Speaker 1: you're like incredibly rich just by buying two hundred full 533 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:04,199 Speaker 1: size Snickers bars. But they're like what a dollar apiece? 534 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:04,679 Speaker 1: It's like not. 535 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 2: Actually, there are multiple houses in my neighborhood that we're 536 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:09,919 Speaker 2: bragging on the what's up about? And this is not 537 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:12,320 Speaker 2: a jillionaire neighborhood that were like, no, we have full 538 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:13,200 Speaker 2: size candy bars. 539 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:15,440 Speaker 1: We have full size. You're getting the full thing here, 540 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:17,119 Speaker 1: and people like, wooh, they're wealthy. 541 00:26:19,040 --> 00:26:19,480 Speaker 2: Apparently. 542 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:21,640 Speaker 1: Call it costUS two hundred dollars to make people think 543 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:24,840 Speaker 1: that if you wanted to, I don't know. I've never 544 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:26,480 Speaker 1: wanted to have people think that, so we give out 545 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 1: snack size. But anyway, so you could also do everyone 546 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:33,199 Speaker 1: a favor. You can make it a little bit easier 547 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:35,919 Speaker 1: for other people and make a list of things you want. 548 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 1: And yes, you are an adult and can probably buy 549 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:41,600 Speaker 1: yourself anything you do want, but being easy to shop 550 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:43,720 Speaker 1: for is kind of a gift you can give other 551 00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:48,840 Speaker 1: people in your life. So you might just consider either 552 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 1: having a list of stuff, or if everyone knows that 553 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:55,800 Speaker 1: you collect X or always shop at a particular store, 554 00:26:56,040 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 1: or love anything in the color blue, that'd be great, 555 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 1: or you know, specifically ask people for time, like so 556 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:05,840 Speaker 1: any you know local relatives, be like, how about you 557 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:08,159 Speaker 1: take my kids for a Saturday afternoon. That's what I 558 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:12,400 Speaker 1: want for Christmas Orhonica or whatever. Love it I don't. 559 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:13,160 Speaker 1: I don't usually get. 560 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:17,800 Speaker 2: The only holiday gift I usually get is from my 561 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 2: college friends because we do a little fun exchange like that. 562 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:21,760 Speaker 2: And yeah, you're right, you'll probably be good if we 563 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:24,560 Speaker 2: were like I want something in this category or something 564 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:27,159 Speaker 2: like that. We generally just give each other cosmetics and 565 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:27,720 Speaker 2: call it a day. 566 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:30,399 Speaker 1: But you guys also know each other really really well. 567 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:33,160 Speaker 1: I mean from twenty plus twenty five years at this point. 568 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:40,080 Speaker 1: So yes, and it's a good thing to figure out. 569 00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:45,600 Speaker 1: I would say, also plan out your holiday break so 570 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:48,199 Speaker 1: you can sometimes go from busy busy busy. In the 571 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 1: first three weeks of December, test, Sarah was saying, like 572 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:54,159 Speaker 1: having nothing around the holidays and your kids are off 573 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:58,159 Speaker 1: of school, if your daycare is closed for some number 574 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:02,359 Speaker 1: of days, or if your nanny or you know, you're 575 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:06,240 Speaker 1: after school, babysit or whatever is on vacation, Like, you're 576 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:09,359 Speaker 1: going to wind up having a lot of time with 577 00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:11,760 Speaker 1: your kids, and especially if they are young kids, that 578 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:15,919 Speaker 1: can get kind of tiring. So you might want to 579 00:28:16,040 --> 00:28:18,560 Speaker 1: consider planning this out to give yourself at least a 580 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:21,440 Speaker 1: few breaks. Maybe you and your partner each give each 581 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:25,080 Speaker 1: other days off. That could be something you guys could do. 582 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:30,080 Speaker 2: I have definitely in the past taken advantage of like 583 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:33,760 Speaker 2: local camp options. I think last year even I had 584 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:35,959 Speaker 2: the kids in like two or three days of like 585 00:28:36,359 --> 00:28:40,120 Speaker 2: one off gymnastics camp just because my husband was working, 586 00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:43,680 Speaker 2: I think he was working New Year's and I was off, 587 00:28:43,760 --> 00:28:45,800 Speaker 2: and I was like, this is a really long stretch 588 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 2: of days, Like it was saying like sixteen days or something, 589 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 2: and I'm like, a gift to me would be three 590 00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:53,360 Speaker 2: days of my kids not being home and I can 591 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:55,240 Speaker 2: like plan the year and organize. They're like, do whatever 592 00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:57,440 Speaker 2: I want, and it was it was fantastic. I didn't 593 00:28:57,440 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 2: do that this year because it's a lot less of 594 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:01,800 Speaker 2: a long stretch because of the days my husband's working 595 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:04,080 Speaker 2: and the kids getting a little bit older does make 596 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:07,640 Speaker 2: it feel a little bit less needed. But give yourself 597 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:09,480 Speaker 2: that gift, especially if your kids are in that really 598 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:12,080 Speaker 2: young phase and you're going a really long stretch without daycare. 599 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:14,960 Speaker 2: I promise you'll still get a lot of time with 600 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:17,480 Speaker 2: your kids. Count up the days. It may be fifteen days. 601 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:20,400 Speaker 2: Giving yourself the ability to have two of them for 602 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 2: you is not selfish. It is absolutely allowed, and I 603 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:25,920 Speaker 2: am very glad I have done it in the past. 604 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:29,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, No, it's a good idea. Or again, if you 605 00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:32,400 Speaker 1: have family visiting that they're willing to take the kids 606 00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:34,440 Speaker 1: for a little bit, just you know, booking a date 607 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:37,360 Speaker 1: with your partner at that time, or a get together 608 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:40,200 Speaker 1: with a friend who's in a similar position. Maybe coordinate 609 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:42,120 Speaker 1: that you guys can go for a run together or 610 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:46,400 Speaker 1: a lunch together or something like that. What also suggest 611 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:50,880 Speaker 1: putting a little bit of fun into January, so one 612 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:54,280 Speaker 1: way you can kind of get more of the holiday fun, 613 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:56,680 Speaker 1: but maybe have less of it on any given day. 614 00:29:56,840 --> 00:29:58,719 Speaker 1: Like if you're you know, if the first three weekends 615 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:01,800 Speaker 1: of December are getting really booked up for you, you 616 00:30:01,880 --> 00:30:04,440 Speaker 1: might consider if any of that could be done in 617 00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:07,520 Speaker 1: early January. So maybe it's that you and your close 618 00:30:07,560 --> 00:30:09,680 Speaker 1: friends do a gift exchange that's more like a twelfth 619 00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:13,080 Speaker 1: night sort of gift exchange, you know, around January sixth 620 00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:17,600 Speaker 1: or some holiday light displays actually stay up through the 621 00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:21,840 Speaker 1: first weekend in January, whatever that happens to be. And 622 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:23,680 Speaker 1: it may be that you have a lot fewer things 623 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:27,280 Speaker 1: going on on January seventh than you do on December fifteenth, 624 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:30,720 Speaker 1: So that might be a way to still go see 625 00:30:30,760 --> 00:30:33,680 Speaker 1: the cool light display or go to the botanical garden thing, 626 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:36,280 Speaker 1: but you're not trying to cram it into a weekend 627 00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:40,640 Speaker 1: that already has three kid concerts and your spouse's office 628 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:41,760 Speaker 1: party and everything else. 629 00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:44,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I know a lot of people get that 630 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:46,760 Speaker 2: sort of letdown feeling when you've done all these fun things. 631 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:49,280 Speaker 2: Maybe you've taken a trip and then you're like, wait, 632 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 2: now what do I have to look forward to? Like 633 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:54,360 Speaker 2: spring break is really far away. Maybe you're not traveling. 634 00:30:54,720 --> 00:30:56,840 Speaker 2: So having some little bright spots in the calendar in 635 00:30:56,920 --> 00:30:58,800 Speaker 2: January can be such a nice thing to do for 636 00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:01,800 Speaker 2: Yourselfely plan on making sure we have a good date 637 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:05,760 Speaker 2: night for January and probably booking like a massage spat 638 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:07,680 Speaker 2: dight with my friends. So just want to have some 639 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:10,520 Speaker 2: little bright spots on the calendar to look forward to 640 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:12,160 Speaker 2: after all the action is kind of over. 641 00:31:12,960 --> 00:31:17,120 Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely, We're planning on going to Disney in February, 642 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:19,440 Speaker 1: so I guess that's something. I don't know if I'm 643 00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:21,000 Speaker 1: so much looking forward to that, but I know the 644 00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:23,280 Speaker 1: kids are, so I guess they'll have something fun to 645 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:26,000 Speaker 1: look forward to. Maybe I need to put some massages 646 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:27,920 Speaker 1: or other things, or maybe somebody will need me to 647 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:31,680 Speaker 1: speak at a conference in like southern California in mid January. 648 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 1: I'll throw that out there. Anyone's looking or Hawaii would 649 00:31:35,040 --> 00:31:39,320 Speaker 1: be really excited about that, Hawaii, yes, exactly, all right. 650 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:41,920 Speaker 1: So these are just some ways to have fun this 651 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:45,160 Speaker 1: holiday season. And you know, again, it's fun to do 652 00:31:45,280 --> 00:31:49,320 Speaker 1: things to make holiday memories. And when you're considering like, 653 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:52,360 Speaker 1: oh is this too much, like, you know, you can 654 00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:54,640 Speaker 1: rest a little bit in January, it might be fun 655 00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:58,120 Speaker 1: to do that extra thing. Get together with your friends, 656 00:31:58,120 --> 00:32:00,800 Speaker 1: get together with your family, go see that fun light display, 657 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:03,120 Speaker 1: you know, get the family out moving around at night 658 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:07,000 Speaker 1: for even if it is a Tuesday. Because that's what 659 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:10,840 Speaker 1: the holidays are all about. It's not just about pairing 660 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 1: things back. It's also putting in more fun stuff and 661 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:18,240 Speaker 1: really enjoying that experience. So moving on to the question section, 662 00:32:18,280 --> 00:32:22,200 Speaker 1: which is somewhat related, this listener asks how do you 663 00:32:22,280 --> 00:32:26,920 Speaker 1: involve the kids or do you in holiday and vacation planning? 664 00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:31,800 Speaker 2: So, Sarah, So for us, it's mostly in the brainstorming phase. 665 00:32:31,920 --> 00:32:33,840 Speaker 2: I have been known when we're like out to dinner 666 00:32:33,880 --> 00:32:35,640 Speaker 2: to whip out a piece of paper and be like, hey, 667 00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:38,400 Speaker 2: what does everyone want to do this summer? And then 668 00:32:38,520 --> 00:32:40,640 Speaker 2: they're not necessarily going to be the ones to decide 669 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:42,200 Speaker 2: when to do it or how to do it, but 670 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:46,760 Speaker 2: at least I've gotten some crowdsource ideas to kind of 671 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:49,280 Speaker 2: decide to make sure that they see something that they 672 00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:51,200 Speaker 2: picked on the calendar. So we do it in the 673 00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:53,960 Speaker 2: brainstorming phase. And then for travel, we have done this 674 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:56,480 Speaker 2: thing that I've talked about where I just decided, like, 675 00:32:56,520 --> 00:32:58,520 Speaker 2: when you're ten, you get to pick a destination for 676 00:32:58,560 --> 00:33:00,440 Speaker 2: the family to go to. It has to be domestic 677 00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:04,240 Speaker 2: forty eight contiguous states, and Annabel picked dec. 678 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:05,400 Speaker 1: I'm only talking about Hawaii here. 679 00:33:05,440 --> 00:33:08,080 Speaker 2: We all want to go to Hawaii, yes, but not 680 00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:10,880 Speaker 2: for your tenth birthday. So, but this is like a 681 00:33:10,920 --> 00:33:12,760 Speaker 2: family trip, so it's not like a one on one thing, 682 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:14,680 Speaker 2: but it was more like Okay, you picked the destination, 683 00:33:14,920 --> 00:33:17,200 Speaker 2: and Annabel's was kind of like delayed because of COVID 684 00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:19,760 Speaker 2: and stuff. But she picked DC in partly because she 685 00:33:19,800 --> 00:33:21,560 Speaker 2: wanted to go to the Aeron Condrance store, which is 686 00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:25,240 Speaker 2: a very good call. Now the store that store is gone, 687 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:28,880 Speaker 2: so she timed it well. And we are asking Cameron 688 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:30,560 Speaker 2: like what he wants to do and kind of trying 689 00:33:30,560 --> 00:33:33,640 Speaker 2: to plan around that for an upcoming trip. So that's 690 00:33:33,640 --> 00:33:35,120 Speaker 2: one way to kind of have the kids have some 691 00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:38,720 Speaker 2: buy in, feel like they have some agency in what 692 00:33:38,760 --> 00:33:39,560 Speaker 2: we do as a family. 693 00:33:39,840 --> 00:33:44,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, we definitely had some brainstorming over the last few years. 694 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:45,680 Speaker 1: I know, we did an episode on Your five Year 695 00:33:45,760 --> 00:33:48,440 Speaker 1: Travel Plan and I asked my older children where they'd 696 00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:50,360 Speaker 1: like to go, like what they'd like to see, and 697 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:54,400 Speaker 1: you know, because of that, we've wound up taking several 698 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:58,840 Speaker 1: family trips to cool destinations. We went to Paris in 699 00:33:59,720 --> 00:34:05,720 Speaker 1: two we went to London last Christmas, and went to 700 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:09,600 Speaker 1: Norway this summer, so they've gotten to see those places. 701 00:34:09,600 --> 00:34:13,919 Speaker 1: We still have to get to Hawaii and some people 702 00:34:13,960 --> 00:34:16,520 Speaker 1: want to go to Japan. That'll be a different trip. 703 00:34:16,760 --> 00:34:18,279 Speaker 1: Not all of the older kids. Only one of them 704 00:34:18,280 --> 00:34:20,040 Speaker 1: wants to go to that one bitbull. We'll make it 705 00:34:20,080 --> 00:34:23,720 Speaker 1: happen at some point, and we have spring break plans 706 00:34:23,719 --> 00:34:26,240 Speaker 1: with that too, So yeah, definitely asking them and trying 707 00:34:26,239 --> 00:34:28,919 Speaker 1: to figure out what they'd like to see while they're 708 00:34:28,960 --> 00:34:31,920 Speaker 1: still home with mom and dad. And I know that 709 00:34:32,239 --> 00:34:34,239 Speaker 1: there will be many other opportunities. I'm sure many of 710 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:36,239 Speaker 1: them will study abroad and I'll get to go visit 711 00:34:36,280 --> 00:34:38,719 Speaker 1: whatever awesome countries they're in while they're there. So I 712 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:41,400 Speaker 1: know there will be plenty of kid travel in the future, 713 00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:43,600 Speaker 1: but there's sort of a limited window where I can 714 00:34:43,680 --> 00:34:47,480 Speaker 1: like guarantee they'll be part of it. I do ask 715 00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:50,000 Speaker 1: about the holiday fun list, so some of my children 716 00:34:50,040 --> 00:34:53,360 Speaker 1: were a little bit more into this brainstorming than others. 717 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:56,840 Speaker 1: Ruth was definitely willing to have that conversation with me, 718 00:34:56,880 --> 00:35:00,320 Speaker 1: and we made a list of having a holiday baking extravagananza. 719 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:02,840 Speaker 1: She wants to go ice skating, and she wanted to 720 00:35:02,880 --> 00:35:06,520 Speaker 1: go to Dutch Wonderland, which is a amusement park that's 721 00:35:06,520 --> 00:35:10,000 Speaker 1: about an hour from here that they do Christmas lights 722 00:35:10,040 --> 00:35:12,040 Speaker 1: and have some of their rides open, and so that's 723 00:35:12,080 --> 00:35:13,719 Speaker 1: just a fun thing to do for you know, two 724 00:35:13,760 --> 00:35:16,600 Speaker 1: hours or so. So I wound up getting tickets for it. 725 00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:19,720 Speaker 1: I wouldn't have thought of that like it. It wasn't 726 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:22,319 Speaker 1: ever on my list of like a really cool thing 727 00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:24,480 Speaker 1: to do, But knowing that one of my kids does 728 00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:27,320 Speaker 1: in fact want to do it made me do it. Also, 729 00:35:27,400 --> 00:35:29,759 Speaker 1: they had mentioned breakfast with Santa as being something they 730 00:35:29,760 --> 00:35:31,240 Speaker 1: want to do, so I made sure to get tickets 731 00:35:31,239 --> 00:35:36,160 Speaker 1: for a breakfast with Santa. So you know that's involving 732 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:40,279 Speaker 1: them with that. But you know, I am to a 733 00:35:40,320 --> 00:35:43,879 Speaker 1: degree the family cruise director, so it's not like I'm 734 00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:46,920 Speaker 1: making my kids get online and buy tickets for stuff 735 00:35:46,920 --> 00:35:48,479 Speaker 1: on a certain day or anything like that. 736 00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:50,560 Speaker 2: Well, I think it sounds like you're going to have 737 00:35:50,560 --> 00:35:53,439 Speaker 2: a very fun holiday season, and the kids definitely put 738 00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:55,600 Speaker 2: some input into that, so it worked out. 739 00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:58,759 Speaker 1: It worked out. Love of the Week, Sarah, what are 740 00:35:58,760 --> 00:35:59,680 Speaker 1: you loving this week? 741 00:36:00,239 --> 00:36:02,400 Speaker 2: I just had a really good experience with batch baking, 742 00:36:02,480 --> 00:36:04,320 Speaker 2: which is like not something I do. I mean, I 743 00:36:04,360 --> 00:36:06,680 Speaker 2: don't even bake that often, but I gotta say, like, 744 00:36:06,719 --> 00:36:09,400 Speaker 2: one day, we had family coming over, so I was like, 745 00:36:09,440 --> 00:36:11,080 Speaker 2: I'm gonna make apple curs. I'm like, oh, but I 746 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:12,719 Speaker 2: also want to make muffins. Oh but I also want 747 00:36:12,760 --> 00:36:14,239 Speaker 2: to make protein balls. I'm like, would it be that 748 00:36:14,280 --> 00:36:16,680 Speaker 2: hard to just like do it all at once? And 749 00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:19,200 Speaker 2: it was surprisingly easy because like, once you have the 750 00:36:19,239 --> 00:36:21,160 Speaker 2: cutting board out, once you have the food process or ound, 751 00:36:21,320 --> 00:36:23,040 Speaker 2: you can just like rinse your bowl and like reuse 752 00:36:23,080 --> 00:36:24,600 Speaker 2: it because it's just like the same type of stuff 753 00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:28,000 Speaker 2: in it. It was surprisingly efficient to do multiple things 754 00:36:28,040 --> 00:36:30,160 Speaker 2: at once. I've done it with cooking before, but I've 755 00:36:30,200 --> 00:36:32,719 Speaker 2: never really tried it with baking. But I feel like, 756 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:34,640 Speaker 2: I don't know, I have up Danny Now I feel 757 00:36:34,680 --> 00:36:36,480 Speaker 2: good about maybe trying to make a couple things at 758 00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:37,919 Speaker 2: once when I decide to bake. 759 00:36:38,440 --> 00:36:42,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, sounds great, sounds yummy. I'll say that my love 760 00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:44,200 Speaker 1: of the week can be protein balls. I wonder if 761 00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:45,920 Speaker 1: I got this from you. I don't know. I made some. 762 00:36:46,200 --> 00:36:48,759 Speaker 2: It sounds like my recipe. It doesn't have like chia 763 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:49,799 Speaker 2: seeds and stuff in it. 764 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:51,719 Speaker 1: Well, I don't own any ts seeds, so I don't 765 00:36:51,719 --> 00:36:54,280 Speaker 1: put tis seeds in it. But you could just make whatever. 766 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:57,200 Speaker 1: I mean, call it a protein ball. I put peanut 767 00:36:57,200 --> 00:37:03,320 Speaker 1: butter oats, honey, vegan chocolate chips, and a little cinnamon 768 00:37:03,360 --> 00:37:04,759 Speaker 1: in it. I think that was probably what was in. 769 00:37:04,800 --> 00:37:07,120 Speaker 1: Maybe a little salt or something like that. Anyway, it 770 00:37:07,160 --> 00:37:09,360 Speaker 1: was good. You know, you roll them up, make little balls, 771 00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:11,000 Speaker 1: put them on a cookie sheet, put them in the 772 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:15,560 Speaker 1: fridge so they harden, and then eat them a lot 773 00:37:15,560 --> 00:37:17,080 Speaker 1: of them. I like them. They were good. 774 00:37:17,360 --> 00:37:19,439 Speaker 2: So love of the week anything with like peanut butter 775 00:37:19,440 --> 00:37:20,600 Speaker 2: being the main ingredient is good. 776 00:37:20,640 --> 00:37:21,319 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, good. 777 00:37:21,480 --> 00:37:21,680 Speaker 2: Well. 778 00:37:21,719 --> 00:37:24,600 Speaker 1: I like stuff that's sweet but not too sweet. I 779 00:37:24,600 --> 00:37:27,200 Speaker 1: think the combination of sweet plus salty is like, oh, 780 00:37:27,360 --> 00:37:30,439 Speaker 1: really good, and you know it's always I second love 781 00:37:30,440 --> 00:37:32,759 Speaker 1: of the week would be like when people bring savory 782 00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:35,919 Speaker 1: stuff to holiday gatherings, because you can go a little 783 00:37:35,960 --> 00:37:37,719 Speaker 1: bit overboard on the sweet. I was once at a 784 00:37:37,760 --> 00:37:39,960 Speaker 1: reception where literally everything was sweet. I mean I think 785 00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:42,960 Speaker 1: they had soda and juice and cookies and brownies, and 786 00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:43,719 Speaker 1: I'm just like, a. 787 00:37:44,200 --> 00:37:47,680 Speaker 2: Like, where's the pretzels and the salted nuts? 788 00:37:47,920 --> 00:37:50,520 Speaker 1: Yes, I know you need something else. That's a lot 789 00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:53,040 Speaker 1: otherwise you're just like all in a daze of sugar 790 00:37:53,120 --> 00:37:56,879 Speaker 1: coma coming into whatever you're doing. So yes, that could 791 00:37:56,920 --> 00:37:59,240 Speaker 1: be another love of the week, because anything at least 792 00:37:59,360 --> 00:38:02,880 Speaker 1: reasonably savory or sweet with a side of salty for 793 00:38:03,080 --> 00:38:06,080 Speaker 1: the holidays as a big win in my book. Love 794 00:38:06,120 --> 00:38:08,680 Speaker 1: It well, this has been best of both worlds. We've 795 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:12,840 Speaker 1: been talking about how you don't need to simplify the holidays. 796 00:38:12,880 --> 00:38:16,160 Speaker 1: You can just celebrate and embrace the holidays, whatever holidays 797 00:38:16,200 --> 00:38:18,840 Speaker 1: you happen to celebrate in your family. We will be 798 00:38:18,880 --> 00:38:21,120 Speaker 1: back next week with more on making work and life 799 00:38:21,160 --> 00:38:21,800 Speaker 1: fit together. 800 00:38:23,920 --> 00:38:26,680 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening. You can find me Sarah at the 801 00:38:26,719 --> 00:38:31,080 Speaker 2: shoebox dot com or at the Underscore Shoebox on Instagram, 802 00:38:31,520 --> 00:38:31,879 Speaker 2: and you. 803 00:38:31,840 --> 00:38:36,080 Speaker 1: Can find me Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. This 804 00:38:36,120 --> 00:38:39,399 Speaker 1: has been the best of both worlds podcasts. Please join 805 00:38:39,480 --> 00:38:42,200 Speaker 1: us next time for more on making work and life 806 00:38:42,320 --> 00:38:43,000 Speaker 1: work together.