MOTHER

Giddy up on that high horse, Aries! On November 27, communicator Mercury begins a three-week gallop through Sagittarius, your philosophical ninth house. This is a great time to share your most cherished personal beliefs with the world. But be forewarned: just because you have a theory to offer up doesn’t mean others will be instantly receptive. That’s cool though, Aries. You are a sign blessed with self-awareness. And this transit gives you appreciation that diversity makes the world go ‘round. So instead of an all-out war with Aunt June about whether stores should be open or closed on Thanksgiving Day in the U.S., engage in friendly debate. Why make it personal? Although the debate has no doubt intensified this year, as The New York Times asserts. Besides, the sweeter you are, the more likely she is to share her sweet potato pie recipe. The ninth house helps keep you open-minded with your kids, too. Is your tween asking to go to a concert an automatic “no?” How about that sleepover where you don’t yet know the parents? If your kids really want to do something, you might be ready to help them find a way. (Chaperone the concert? Coffee first with the sleepover parents?) It can be a learning experience for you both. Extend your open mind to the parent-teacher conferences getting scheduled now. We’re absorbing this advice on how to get the most out of your ten minutes with the teacher, from NPR. Also this holiday week, the Moon moves into Aquarius on November 28, igniting your idealistic eleventh house and your biggest dreams. Before you fist-pump, sober Saturn moves into Scorpio that same day, forming a tricky square to the Moon. So while you may want to rev up the dream machine, self-doubt may cause it to sputter. Fill your tanks with practical steps toward those dreams. You’ll feel accomplished, not discouraged. And you’ll be one step closer to your goal. If you suffer from having too many ideas and not knowing where to begin, check out this mompreneur blog. And consider embracing the beautiful mess you are, as Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat Pray Love) suggests. Come to think of it, kids are already messy. So let’s just dig in together. Playdough and Kinetic Sand in the living room for everyone!

Pull up your security blanket, Taurus. On November 27, ideasmith Mercury enters Sagittarius, your eighth house of shared wealth. Matters of long-term security will be on your mind during this transit, which lasts until December 16. It could be a work opportunity, especially for moms who’ve been out of the game. Or if you’re an entrepreneurial Bull, it could be a boon to your business. If you’re like a lot of Tauruses, you adopt a “slow and steady” approach. But now you’re willing to loosen your grip and allow things to speed up. Where will they lead you? Maybe you join forces with like-minded souls or attract some heavy-hitters. A potential partner who shares your passion and can help make your dreams become reality could be in your midst. Or you might be about to catch a windfall of some type—an investor with cold cash or someone who can offer services you need, gratis. Consider what you may be able to trade, too—one of your skills in exchange for their services. A lot of moms we know who have writing or graphic design backgrounds trade them for bookkeeping and legal work. Take meetings with anyone who’s willing to listen to your idea. Your words will have power now, especially backed with your intention to trade—win-win, as they say. Real estate and assets are highlighted now, too. If you’ve been considering an upgrade to Chez Taurus, you’re ready to seriously weigh your options. An addition? A new house? Maybe even a new zip code. It’s a good time to buy a house while they’re “dressed up for the holidays,” as this blog posts describes. But a lot of families with school-age kids don’t want to disrupt the school year and will wait until the spring to buy. If your kids are little: bonus! No transition necessary, so no need to wait if you’re thirst for real estate listings is insatiable now. Reinforcing your efforts on November 28 is the Moon in Aquarius, which will light up your ambitious tenth house. Your ascent, however, may experience a hiccup in the form of a snag in a personal relationship. You can thank a Saturn in Scorpio, your seventh house of partnerships, forming a challenging angle to the Moon. This could be a naysayer, a friend who you thought would support you in following your passion. Perhaps a friend becomes jealous, and here are some fantastic ideas from The Daily Love on how to handle that. Or it could be, in some ways, that your partner is holding you back, as this touchy but insightful article on Slate explores. Whatever the case, establishing emotional boundaries will help you keep a clear path between your head and your heart. Ultimately, it's up to you to get things back to balance—a good idea before the holiday season starts.

Can’t we all just get along? Let it start with you, Gemini! On November 27, mindful Mercury enters Sagittarius, your cooperative seventh house, until December 16. If you’ve been at odds with someone, especially someone close to you, this diplomatic influence can help you smooth over the rough edges. For pregnant women, your need for harmony and peace is palpable now. What might normally get you steamed doesn’t even faze you. We could all practice a little more empathy, so let it start with you. It sure seems like there’s a lot of black-and-white thinking these days—just take a look at the polarizing posts in your Facebook newsfeed. Robert Reich argues we have a deficit, and he may be on to something. This Parenting Science post explains how we can teach our children empathy, and contends that it doesn’t just emerge naturally. Not to say we can’t have differing opinions—you’re sure to hear them at the family dinner table over turkey this week. Formulate your responses to the most outrageous comments with grace and you’ll manage. If you can steer the convo, make sure to avoid everything on this list. Seek conversational refuge later with your friends or intellectually rich colleagues who fly at the same altitude that you do. Or stretch your kids with a topic they’re not used to talking to you about—they may surprise you with their knowledge and insight. Maybe you can learn something from them, too. While you’re at it, can you find out for us what the whole calling celebrities “mom” on social media is all about? It’ll be no surprise that you want to expand your mind because the moon moves into Aquarius on November 28, your cerebral ninth house. If there’s a subject you’ve been eager to immerse yourself in, this is a great time to do that. Maybe you’ve flirted with the idea of learning a language. Dig in! Or make a date night doing something a little different, something more cultural than the mega movie-plex—maybe catch a stage play or a Nutcracker ballet performance. The ninth house also highlights adventure, so get a trip on your calendar if one isn’t already there—something for after the excitement of the holidays. One note: sober Saturn is in Scorpio, your analytical sixth house. This happens when the Moon is in Aquarius and forms a tense angle that can create challenges. Your heart may be saying “beach vacation,” but your mind is saying “can we afford it?” Listen to both. Try not to get too bogged down in the practical. Get creative. You’ll find a way if you want something bad enough, Gemini!

Squeeze out another dab of antibacterial gel, Cancer. On November 27, meddlesome Mercury in Sagittarius, your sixth house of health and wellness. Over the next three weeks, you are more susceptible to germs, so be extra careful about your sanitary habits. We don’t want to freak you out, though, Crab, especially with the news recently buzzing about the possible dangers of triclosan. Stick to an alcohol-based gel that hospitals and doctors’ offices use, like Purell. And maybe skip the antibacterial soaps for now. Besides, some good old-fashioned hand washing with traditional soap is tried-and-true for staying well. Teaching your kids this important lesson can be a challenge. Here are some tips from Parenting on how to get the kids to lather up. We’d add to this list explaining that not washing hands can get them sick—not a lot of kids like being sick. Unless they’re clever enough to realize begin sick means not going to school and watching a SpongeBob Squarepants marathon! The sixth house goes far beyond hygiene, though—it also rules organization. This is a great time to look at your house with a fresh eye, especially if you're making room for holiday decorations and finding real estate is getting sparse with your family’s growing collections of…everything! A classic clean-out will help keep you off an episode of Hoarders but also make room for anything coming in new from the holidays. Check out the DeclutterBeFree blog for loads of ideas on unloading and getting at the root of your collection instincts. If you work outside the home, the pile of dirty mugs in the office kitchen can drive you mad now. Tidy if you must get it out of your system, but try to avoid becoming the office mother. That’s not your job! Resist your nurturing instincts and let them be slobs. You’re not to doing yourself any favors and just wasting your time not being productive. Focus on yourself. While you’re in the sixth house of wellness, consider your own personal wellness goals. Keep a journal to track your physical activity and meals, if you’d like to get a handle on it before the pumpkin pie makes way for the holiday cookie plates. The information you gather will pave the way for healthy, lasting benefits. Just think, you could welcome the new year ahead of the game. One sidenote: The Moon is in Aquarius on November 28, your resourceful eighth house. But it is square to restrictive Saturn in Scorpio, your expressive fifth house. This can put a monkey wrench in your plans, so while you may feel like you’re making strides on the wellness front, you can easily be derailed. Knowing this will help you avoid pitfalls. It will help you understand and not beat yourself up over going for seconds on the pie, too. Life is meant to be enjoyed; it's not all about following the rules. So if you’re going for seconds, pile on the whipped cream. You’ll work it off hitting the stores on Black Friday.

Playwright George Bernard Shaw said, “We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” There’s a lot of truth in that. So…go play this week, Leo. You may say it to your kids; now say it to yourself! Tap into some youthful antics, and let your imaginative side out now. Beginning November 27, communicator Mercury enters Sagittarius, your artistic fifth house, for three weeks. What sparks your creativity? Think about what you can do for yourself, and make time for it. Play is more fun when it’s shared, so involve a friend or your partner. Try a one-off class in something new and even artistic. One mom we know just took a woodworking class to make radiator covers for her home. Another took a class to make a holiday wreath when she couldn’t find what she wanted in stores. A couple we know took a cooking class through Sur La Table to mix up their date nights. Take the kids to a pottery-painting studio—a great outlet for creativity and the finished products make wonderful presents for extended family. If you’re a Leo who’s foot-tapping at this idea (“I don’t have time for this right now!”), trust us, you need to find time and an outlet. It doesn’t have to be crafty and artistic, or involve your hands. It can be whatever appeals to you. You could take the lead on planning your office holiday party. You could just go get your freak on with some karaoke. Pick up the guitar that’s been gathering dust. Revisit a hobby that’s been dormant. Hone in on a skill you’ve not tended to in awhile. If you still got nothing, find something! The point is not to become a celebrated artiste, but to become YOU. Check out this post on how to discover your truest self if you’re feeling stuck. It may really open your eyes, and your mind to something. Consider this the easy part of your week. Your flow could feel effortless, particularly in your closest relationships, thanks to the Moon in Aquarius on November 28, your seventh house of partnerships. But give-and-take can be strained because of a tense angle it makes to sober Saturn in Scorpio, your domestic fourth house. A matter on the homefront can get dicey. Huh, perfect timing with Thanksgiving in the U.S. Remember your boundaries. They’re not walls, they’re emotional safety nets for you. Divert convos that may lead you down a path you don’t want to go. All the more reason to pick up a hobby now and go distract yourself! It’s not too late to design some “conversation napkins.” Go grab a Sharpie!

Take a walk down memory lane, Virgo. Communicator Mercury enters Sagittarius, your nostalgic fourth house, on November 27 for a three-week visit. This transit unfolds all kinds of sentimentality about your past, your loved ones, and even your surroundings. It may seem like nothing can be viewed without a thoughtful lens. It could make you a little weepy for your loved ones no longer with us, especially with Thanksgiving this week in the U.S. Pay homage to past relatives whose absence is noted with a favorite recipe or tradition, like maybe watching the Macy’s Parade or decorating a gingerbread house. Or, start your own! Here are some easy-to-implement but high-on-sentimentality ideas (love the gratitude tablecloth one). It’s not too late to fill up any seats at your table, either. Extend an invite or keep it loose—maybe an open house for dessert and have everyone bring something, potluck style. Or if you’re a Virgo who doesn’t like to slave in the kitchen but loves tradition, check if a local museum is offering a meal reenactment. After the holiday indulgence, cave in to your feelings for calling on or visiting loved ones you haven’t seen in awhile. A female relative could play a big role for you now. Maybe you want to catch up and also bounce some ideas off this person who has also played mentor for you in the past. Pregnant women especially may want to draw on the experience of others now. Great comfort can come from hearing answers to your most personal questions if they come from someone you consider “safe” and nonjudgemental. If you’re expecting, here’s a roundup of tips for getting through the holidays unscathed, including, importantly, what to do about all those folks who want to touch your belly. On November 28, the Moon enters Aquarius, your sixth house of wellness and organization. Sort through the old photos you’ve had piling up. Make an album or two (they can make great gifts come holiday time)! Minimize clutter. You’ll clear your mind and restore vitality. And put a spotlight on your health and fitness routine–one that will realistically get you through the holidays (we think moderation is a great way to not feel deprived and not feel you’ve gone off whatever ideal you try to follow). One caution: pesky Saturn will also be in Scorpio, your intellectual third house. These transits form a tense angle that can cool down whatever you have heating up. Try not to get discouraged; it will pass, and probably quickly. Then you can get back to remembering the good old days and creating new memories.

Mommy brain no more! Libra, your mind gets sharp on November 27 when expressive Mercury spins into Sagittarius, your third house of communication, untying your tongue and moving you beyond "mommy brain." Now you can walk into a room or a store and remember what you went in there for in the first place. That’s the power of this transit! Of course, the universe isn’t raising your children and juggling the bazillion things you are, so don’t be surprised if it’s not completely smooth sailing. Hello, you’re a mom or a mom-to-be! Let’s take what we can, shall we? (Who can relate to this list of mom-brain moments. At the very least, you will have the gift of gab, so convos will be smoother now with little chance of mixed signals. For working Libras, this is a good time to schedule important meetings, especially ones where you need to make a presentation or a pitch. Also, brainstorming is in full bloom for you. If you can lead a session, even better. And when it comes to your social life, your dance card is filling up. You’ve got a magnetic spirit now and everyone will want to be around you. Be selective, though, or you risk running yourself a tad ragged. Direct your energy where you want it to be spent. Check out local events, too, like at your kids’ school. Attend a fundraiser or a performance, maybe even get to know some of the parents outside your kids’ classes or grades. Expecting moms, this is a good time to get your children ready for a sibling, if that's on tap. An open dialogue with your kids can expose any feelings they have. Their thoughts may catch you off guard and not at all be what you were expecting. Check out this post, Bringing Home A New Sibling, for some straightforward problems/solutions. That way, if they hit you with something out of left field, you’ll have a foundation to draw from. You may also be inspired to do one of the things on this list of 17 Things to Do With Your Firstborn Before the Second Baby Arrives. If you’re thinking about upgrading your vehicle to accommodate your growing family, this is a good time to do it, as the third house rules transportation. Your Chatty Cathy ways are reinforced on November 28 with the Moon in Aquarius, your festive fifth house. You just may take up everyone who extends an invitation for Thanksgiving dinner, breezing in and out. The fifth house also rules fertility, so if you’re trying, this may be a successful cycle for you. However, the Moon makes a quirky angle with serious Saturn in Scorpio, your structured second house. A work or money matter could get in the way of your plans. It may be something that demands your attention—and unrelentingly so. Perhaps it's even a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. Don’t worry, Libra, it WILL work out, but maybe not before you’ve inadvertently traded your energy and focus meant to be spent elsewhere. Be ready to pick up the pieces and move on. Pat yourself on the back for being responsible, and spend the rest of the week blowing off the steam. Open another Beaujolais! Or a Thanksgiving cocktail. Virgins for the ones eating for two!

Speak up, Scorpio—it’s not time to recoil. Dialogue driven Mercury moves into Sagittarius, your second house of routine and habits, on November 27. For the next three weeks, be sure to communicate your needs and desires at home and at work—no tap dancing around it. This isn’t a time to “take one for the team.” We’re guessing you’ve done your share of that, along with paying your dues. Chances are good you’ve also done enough of that. So what is it you want? What will make your life better? Now is the time to ask for what you need. A raise at work? More “me” time from the family? If you don’t ask, you can’t receive. It’s a pretty simple formula. Sure you may get noticed eventually, but why leave your fate in someone else’s hands? Why take the chance you won’t get what you want, much less deserve? You can also help yourself by taking a look at your routines and tweaking or simplifying them. Check out these 10 Time Management Tips for Busy Mom. The second house also rules money. You have the mental acuity now to take care of financial matters. It could be focusing on a college fund or checking in on your household budget. What better time to get a handle on your finances than before Black Friday and Cyber Monday. (Are they still calling it that?) Get a handle on your expenses before you hit the stores for this year’s gifts. If the kids are old enough to do their own shopping, you could introduce them to a budget on this small scale. If there’s a holiday craft fair at their school, even better. A lot less overwhelming than the malls! We know some moms who are finished with their shopping—FINISHED! If you’re that organized, hats off to you. If you’re not, you have this three-week transit to become so. We’re also inspired by the moms who have taken on the challenge to exchange homemade-only gifts (a lofty goal, but not a bad one). You can take things a step further by taking a “Christmas Pledge” whereby you swear to complete all holiday-related tasks before the end of the first week in December so you can enjoy the actual holidays stress-free. You might be willing to try, Scorpio, as the Moon shines in Aquarius on November 28, your domestic fourth house. You’ll be feeling the “home, sweet, home” vibes big-time. Slip on some cozy slippers. Plug in the crockpot and make a big Sunday gravy to fill in the before-and-after Thanksgiving meals, so you don’t have to do any more in the kitchen than you plan to. Treat yourself to a candlelit bath, preferably with the kids’ toys removed. If you have a hard time relaxing, it’s not just because your mind is buzzing with all you need to do. There’s a dicey square that the Moon will form with restrictive Saturn in Scorpio, your first house of identity. Try not to put so much pressure on yourself. Draw on your sign’s strength and push perfectionism out of your mind. That way you can truly unwind and enjoy the spoils of the season.

There’s an “I” in Sagittarius—two of them, actually. Fitting, as communicator Mercury pops into Sagittarius, your first house of identity, on November 27 for three all-about-me weeks. Expect to be making lots of “I” statements during this transit, and why shouldn’t you? This is your time to express yourself. Speak your passions. Spread the good word of your goals. How else will they become a reality? How else can you collect collaborators? Fans? Of course, a filter can be applied now and then. If you feel you’ve blurted out something blunt, or that you’ll regret later, do your best to smooth it over in the moment. You could easily overstep a boundary with your frankness. Of course, you could also pick up your fair share of new “likes” by employing a strategy that honesty is the best policy. But not everyone gets your humor or appreciates snark, so know your audience. The Moon has got your back on November 28 when it shines in Aquarius, your third house of communication. If you weren’t knocking people over with your wit at the Thanksgiving table, wait until the long weekend. In case you’re worried about applying that filter, here are 15 Conversation Topics to Avoid at Thanksgiving Dinner. And since you of all signs are likely to forget those, but here are some “safe” ideas. There are also convo starters for the kids, if they actually happen to need them. So if that uncle goes on a tangent about gun control, you can gently take things down a notch by asking your toddler, “So, what do you like about Thanksgiving?!” Steer the talk beyond the family feast, and be sure to involve your older kids if you seek more than monosyllabic answers, as this New York Times blog posts offers. A special note for pregnant women now: while Mercury is in your first house, your voice and opinions are strong. Bring those “I” statements along with you to the doctor’s office. You want to be vocal about your needs and your care. You don’t at all need to worry if you’re being “pushy.” You’re number-one here, and you aren’t about to let anyone forget about it—especially not the ranty relative who seems to be an expert in everything you’re going through. Or maybe you’re waiting for the big gathering to announce your news! One caveat to you wearing the crown: stern Saturn is in Scorpio, your brooding twelfth house. It forms a tense square with the Moon on November 28. So while you’re engaging and having a good time, this transit can pull you back on some feelings, even subconsciously. It could be something nagging—an old issue or emotional baggage left on the carousel? Try to deal with it head on so you can get back to signing autographs and enjoying your attention.

Dream on, Capricorn. On November 27, planet of communication Mercury takes a three-week siesta in Sagittarius, your restful twelfth house. A fog may settle over your mind. You may literally feel as though someone is swinging a pendulum in front of you, telling you that you’re getting very, very sleepy. It could make it difficult to focus at work and at home, even on the most rote tasks. This is the universe ordering you to put yourself in time-out. For starters, you could use some rest. If you’re an industrious Capricorn, powering down may be exactly what you need. Get to bed at a good time every night to regulate your sleep. And sleep with one foot outside your covers as this New York Magazine “sleep hack” suggests. Just not hanging off the bed where monsters can get it unless you have your child’s Monster Spray on your nightstand. Try keeping a journal on that nightstand, too. When you wake, jot any gems from your slumber. Our dreams often unlock clues to mysteries we grapple with. The twelfth house is an ideal time to force up and knead out any emotional knots, even painful ones. The only way to heal and move on is to face them. As the zodiac’s chief worrywart, you may be having a freakout about Thanksgiving gatherings with family. Surround yourself with friends, or relatives who don’t threaten to press on your already depressed panic button, if you can. We’re willing to bet you could use the downtime and a safe, comfortable audience. If it comes at the expense of disappointing someone, so be it. More likely they are playing the guilt card, so do your best not to pick it up. We love the Working Moms Against Guilt blog. It has lots of posts for how to avoid guilt including lots of tips for Thanksgiving. Besides, you’ll have more on your mind this week than the feelings of your in-laws. The Moon is in Aquarius on November 28, highlighting your second house of finance. This shines a light on the good things happening for you in this arena. But the celebration dims slightly with stern Saturn in Scorpio, your eleventh house of groups, as it forms a tricky angle with the Moon. This is when you may go back for seconds on guilt—or to overspend trying to be the consummate host. Even with your friends you don’t want to disappoint. A bit of doubt bubbles up on your decisions. Don’t worry, Capricorn. It’ll pass. Just remember you can’t please all of the people all of the time, but you CAN worry about pleasing yourself. Skip the second-guessing, and go back for seconds on the pie!

Change is constant, Aquarius. No one knows that better than a mom. We think we have one thing down and them BAM—our kids go and change things up. On November 27, communicator Mercury moves into Sagittarius, your eleventh house of groups and technology. For the next three weeks, you’ll be like a tech titan. Nothing changes faster than things do online. Jump on for the ride if you’re savvy. Haven't updated your blog in…don’t want to think about it? Well, get on it! Thinking about launching a blog? No time like the present. Or maybe it’s time to experiment with your social media presence. Aquarians are known for making lasting change on humanitarian levels, too. Perhaps you’ve already been outspoken about retailers who have to work on Thanksgiving like this Change.org petition asking Target to close so its employees can have the day off. (BTW, even CIO is encouraging people not to shop on Thanksgiving. So, it’s not just a grassroots movement anymore.) This week we’ve seen petitions circulate for maternity leave benefits and for ending the horse carriages in NYC. What’s your cause? Or will you start one during this transit? Think local. This is a fantastic opportunity to involve your children, too, and teach them about volunteering and caring for others in the community. A lot of food pantries and soup kitchens need help distributing and serving. Ask around about how you can help. Some food banks will provide shopping lists. You can take your children to the grocery store to collect the items and drop them off. We know one mom who explained it to her preschool daughter that they were helping someone who didn’t have as much as they did. We thought that was a nice way of explaining it on her level without causing her to worry. Backing up your efforts is the moon moving into Aquarius on November 28, your self-focused first house. You’re ready to assert yourself—or insert yourself—into the goals you want to achieve. Start your own Change.org petition? Yet, just as you’re ready to press “submit” a force causes you to pause. That’s sneaky Saturn in Scorpio, your long-term planning tenth house, forming a tense angle with the Moon. Don’t worry, it’ll pass. Use the freeze to review. Consider it an opportunity to self-edit yourself and be super-duper sure you’re ready to go live on your idea. Because when you put it out there, you can expect it to be epic, if that’s what you’re going for.

Who’s the boss? That would be you, Pisces. On November 27, communicator Mercury moves into Sagittarius, your ambitious tenth house, firing up your inner queen bee. During the next three weeks, get set to own your achievements—at work, school, even around the house. And don’t cede the accolades to a colleague or another mother out of sheer politeness. If someone says “you rock,” just say “thank you!” Sidenote: why is that so hard? We love this Amy Schumer parody. So much truth. This could be an opportunity to explore any self-esteem issues, too, especially if they’re holding you back from your true potential. The tenth house illuminates our long-term plans, even if we are only thinking about getting through each day. Where do you want to be after (insert any milestone with your kids)? You may be making sacrifices now, but there will be a benefit later. If you can see that, and feel confident with the decisions you’re making now, you’ll be more at peace. The truth is, you have more hard-won wisdom than you might even realize. Give yourself some credit. Apply this confidence to your parenting, too. If you feel like boundaries get blurred with your children or you’ve admitted to yourself that they get away with more than you’d like them to, start setting limits. Here are ten ideas for how to set limits, with kindness. Pisceans are known for their compassion. We can’t imagine you suddenly donning the hat of a drill sergeant and barking orders. But the more you apply limits, the more you’ll be seen as an authority figure. And in turn your children will come to respect you more for it. Maybe not now, but later. (Remember that short-term sacrifice thing?) One caution, though, is that your energy might be sapped come November 28, when the Moon decamps to Aquarius and your dreamy twelfth house. Just as you’re about to pull up the covers on some tough days of adjusting your outlook on self-esteem and authority, rest may elude you. You can thank sober Saturn in Scorpio, your high-minded ninth house, which forms a tense angle with the Moon now. The best way to ease the friction is to let things go with the flow. If you’re meeting resistance, be patient. And if you can steal away for a day of adventure (the worldly ninth house encourages it), it might be just the distraction you need now. It may be harder with the Thanksgiving holiday to get time to yourself. But you can find ways to make it a quieter time—get everyone a book tailored just for them this holiday. New tradition: reading time! Now everyone, shhhhh.