Well…we made it through another year of trick-or-treating. I’ve hidden all the Milk Duds that were in the candy bucket (ya know…just for emergencies) and am now moving on to the holiday season. The media is slamming us with messages that stores will be in short supply of whatever it is we think we need, I’m in the middle of a time-consuming project at work, and it’s a balmy 43 degrees here today. I feel cold, cranky, and slightly overwhelmed.
The holiday season in general can be overwhelming for many of us. As women we tend to take on the brunt of the planning, decorating, shopping, cleaning, and cooking during this time of year. I know it can be especially hard on many of us right now with so many departments understaffed and our LEO’s working more and more overtime shifts. The burden of making everything magically happen and come together for a memorable holiday for our families is a lot to handle!
It can help to make a plan now rather than later. Start by adding your LEOs extra shifts to the calendar, but also pick a date for your favorite family movie night (even if it is Home Alone). Schedule the tree decorating, gingerbread house making, and when or if you’ll be visiting extended family. If my LEO is working tons of extra hours and I’m missing him, it makes me feel better knowing I have something to look forward to.
Remember…being flexible with your plans is the unwritten LEOW motto. We already know that my family won’t be celebrating Thanksgiving on November 25th with the rest of America. Santa will also wait to fill our stockings until the wee hours of the morning on December 26th. It certainly won’t be the first or last time we have had to change up days when we celebrate a holiday due to shift work. It may not always be exactly what you’ve planned, but being able to adapt to ever changing work schedules is extremely important in this law enforcement lifestyle. I’ll be the first to say that I haven’t always done it with grace and I’m still learning, but it does come with the territory.
Lastly, I strongly encourage you to take time when you can for yourself in the coming weeks. Sneak in a pedicure while out shopping for gifts. Take the extra 4 minutes alone in your car and replay your favorite song. Work a 20-minute power nap into your afternoon. Call a friend for some encouragement and be sure to give it right back when you can.
For those of you experiencing your first holiday season with your LEO…or the first one where you may be alone while he works…hang in there and go easy on yourselves. It can be rough scrolling through social media feeds of Christmas morning festivities while your LEO is working and you are just praying he comes home safe. While others may not always understand what you’re going through…we do…and your sisters in blue are right here…with a stash of emergency Milk Duds if you need some.
l Sandee l