The craziness leading up to the holidays quiets on Christmas Eve as we settle into the next few days. The Christmas tree reflects the promise and hope of the season while sheltering the gifts beneath its bough.

Now, here we are five days later and it's time to take that bad boy down.

In a world where only my opinion matters, the tree would come down on December 26. I don't live in that world so compromise is key and in our house, the tree comes down and is tossed over the back deck as a winter wonderland for the squirrels and birds on January 1. "They" pushed for longer but I held my ground.

As the holiday memories linger and the lights continue to shine, every needle that falls on an opened gift not yet put away is a reminder of a task not yet completed. I take a deep breath, brush away the needles, rearrange a gift or two and go about my day.

It is the holiday week after all. It's a time joy, rest and relaxation. And January 1 is only 2 days away.

They say life doesn't give you more than you can handle. I don't know who "they" are but they obviously are not the dual-income parents of a 'tween.

I have been steadily losing ground to a sinus infection for over a month. Between the daily inner-battle of going to work versus staying home, there was that deer-Honda-insurance incident to address. This week, 'tween angst was on the agenda when a routine morning drop off was foiled by uncontrollable tears for a friend facing a personal challenge. The same afternoon brought a new development and we ended our day skipping swimming practice and reading The Period Blog. Calgon, take me away.

Overwhelmed and keenly aware I had not worked a full day yet that week, I quelled the doubts and did what needed to be done. And you can too.

When confronted with a multitude work-life challenges:

Reach out to others. Be it a trusted teacher, a respected educator or a resourceful family friend, there are people with experiences, perspectives and a desire to help. Ask and you may be pleasantly surprised at what you receive.
Let the work go. You tell your staff that the work can wait, now show them. You hired the best so let them to do their jobs. People hear your words, but they remember your actions. What do your actions say about your values?
Always chose the kid. There are touch points in a child's life that requires the love and attention of their parents. They are not predictable or planned and, when they occur, nothing can replace the family.

Finally, if you haven't done so lately, let the husband know that his girls are strengthened by his presence and support. He doesn't even have to say a word.

What do you do to keep an over-zealous life from getting the best of you?

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Lisa Rosendahl