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Focusing On What Matters Most During The Holidays

December 19, 2014 by Susan

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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Family is everything to me.

My world spins around my two little girls, Julia and Sophia. After struggling with infertility for over 3 years, I never dreamed I would be a mother to two precious girls. I will always place them first when I count my blessings. Julia is 9 and Sophia is 7.

Susan with Sophia and Julia

I’m also blessed to be a very active Auntie to Janice’s 7 year old daughter Olivia and her 12 year old son Jackson. They live two blocks away and we always joke that I’m their “Mommy #2”.

And my mother — who just turned 74 — is the most devoted mother and generous woman anyone could imagine. Since she lives just down the road with Janice and her children, we’re all extremely close and see each other daily.

Such makes up the core of my family and those whom I share about online. I do have other family members and close friends who matter very much indeed, but they prefer I not share about them online. (Not everyone leads a blogger’s life. LOL)

Christmas 2008Since we don’t have much extended family, our holidays are rather relaxed and reasonably small gatherings. Although, our wild children wound up on the excitement of Christmas do seem to make a house seem very full, very quickly.

Our family holiday traditions are simple and we still enjoy the same trusted Christmas dinner menu that we’ve had throughout my life… Turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes and yams, along with lots of vegetables and cranberry from a can! Yes, I think the best cranberry comes straight out of a can.

Unlike some of my friends with big families and lots of holiday traditions, our Christmas celebrations are quite simple… but they’re still special.

The biggest change to our family Christmas traditions would be the photos.

When we were kids, my father always took the photos and every year once the Christmas dinner was served, he’d jump up and say he had to take a photo. We all tried to smile while he snapped the big group shot at the table, when really we all just wanted to dig into dinner.

Now my father has passed away, Janice is the photographer and we’ve transitioned to taking those “Christmas” shots ahead of time, so that we don’t have everyone complaining that dinner’s going cold.

Christmas Presents

While our traditions may be simple, and I only travel two blocks to get to dinner, I try to focus on what matters the most during Christmas and every other day of the year… Family.

I absolutely LOVE the message behind the new TYLENOL® For What Matters Most™ campaign… family matters regardless of the dynamic or makeup of your family.

This message is especially close to my heart since both Janice and I are single moms who co-parent with our children’s fathers. Our families are no longer traditional, but they aren’t “broken” either… rather they are modern families overflowing with love.

I feel one of the unique opportunities of parenting after divorce is the ability to model real-life conflict resolution and forgiveness. We can show our children how we work together on the most important job in the world – parenting – even when we live separately.

So when I was asked to spread the message of this modern spin on Norman Rockwell’s classic holiday painting, Freedom From Want, to illustrate modern families coming together to celebrate what matters most during the holidays, I agreed happily.

For 60 years, the makers of TYLENOL® have helped to care for families. To celebrate the holidays this year, the makers of TYLENOL® decided to help spread the message that while modern families may not look like Norman Rockwell’s iconic painting, they share the same themes of love and togetherness.

 

I have received information about the TYLENOL® For What Matters Most™ campaign from McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc., the makers of TYLENOL®. The opinions stated are my own. This is a sponsored post.

Written by Susan Carraretto, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom
Talk with me: @5minutesformom and Facebook.com/5minutesformom
Pin with me at pinterest.com/5minutesformom

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Wishing you a Magical Christmas from Santa and @KLM
Sharpie Mugs That Work! (And a Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix)

About Susan

Susan Carraretto and her identical twin, Janice Croze, created 5 Minutes for Mom in 2006. Susan loves all social media, but her top addiction these days is Pinterest.

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8 Comments

  1. Kerry Sauriol says

    December 22, 2014 at 11:53 am

    I have always said family doesn’t have to be blood. Family is those that love you. Our Christmases are small affairs too and close. Mom lives in same townhouse complex. So we walk across the court bearing food and gifts. However as a child of a single mom and memories of ‘visiting’ others homes over the holidays, I am very happy with this…and sharing the holidays with anyone who was important to us and who cared about us.

    Reply
  2. Jessica @ The Mom Creative says

    December 22, 2014 at 11:20 am

    You are lucky to be so close to your mom and sister – geographically and emotionally. What a gift – especially at the holidays!

    Reply
  3. Jo-Lynne Shane says

    December 20, 2014 at 6:37 am

    Thank you for this post. This year has been tough. Not only have work demands been more intense than ever, but I am down with an injury and I just can’t do everything I want to do. But you are right. It’s the family that matters most, not the Pinterest-perfect Christmas. 🙂 xo

    Reply
    • Susan says

      December 22, 2014 at 6:25 am

      It is extra tough when you have a health challenge on top of everything else… then add the holiday craziness, and it can be easy to not enjoy the season.

      Reply
  4. Nadia Carriere says

    December 19, 2014 at 10:37 pm

    Your family is definitely overflowing with love! Thank you for sharing a glimpse into your holiday traditions!

    Reply
    • Susan says

      December 22, 2014 at 6:26 am

      Thanks Nadia!

      Reply
  5. Nicole Feliciano says

    December 19, 2014 at 10:10 pm

    Aww, love all your holiday photos.

    Reply
    • Susan says

      December 22, 2014 at 6:26 am

      Thanks Nicole! I’m so lucky to have a twin who is a photographer.

      Reply

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