As we dive into the festive season, I can’t help but feel that it’s the most exhausting time of the year in my household. Seriously, the chaos that begins in September and October doesn’t let up. Between juggling childcare, meal prep, and my job—while navigating the added pressure of my kid needing braces—I’ve already been on overdrive. Just when I thought I could catch a breath, my babysitter decided to leave mid-November, which only added “find new childcare” to my overflowing to-do list.
Then, the holiday season arrives, bringing a flurry of tasks: buying and wrapping gifts, RSVPing to events, syncing calendars, and ensuring my kids have everything they need for their recitals—new tights for one and a freshly ironed shirt for the other. So, how many of these details has my partner even thought about? If you’re guessing zero, then you’re spot on.
Now let’s talk about the gifts “we” need to buy. Sure, we’re trying to cut back on materialism, especially with the world feeling like it’s unraveling. I can handle the presents for our kids, their grandparents, and close friends—the stress from those is manageable. But it’s the obligatory gifts for teachers, the piano instructor, the dry cleaner, and the friendly guy at the gym that really send me over the edge.
Fortunately, I don’t have to worry about gift-giving obligations for a yard or a doorman. But even if I decide to skip some of these gifting opportunities, I still find myself stressing over where to draw the line. How many hours have the men in my life spent pondering whether to gift our piano teacher (who’s been teaching for nearly a year) versus our karate teacher (whom we’ve only known for six weeks)? Your guess is as good as mine—let’s just say it’s probably zero.
I may not need to send out holiday cards, but I genuinely enjoy picking photos and finding designs that represent our family. I love comparing the cards we’ve sent over the years, and skipping a year just feels wrong. But panic sets in once the card box arrives. I rarely have stamps on hand, and I can’t recall everyone’s address. No, I don’t know how to use Excel, and don’t even get me started on “mail merge.” The reality is that I pull out our wedding guest list and start handwriting cards, acknowledging that many people have moved since then. And holiday stamps? They’re going out with whatever I can find—American Flag stamps it is.
Amidst the holiday whirlwind, I also face invitations to cookie parties, which require a dozen homemade cookies from me. Just thinking about it makes me feel overwhelmed. I don’t have a signature cookie recipe; my idea of a treat is hiding ice cream in the freezer for myself.
How many cookie parties has my partner been invited to? You guessed it—zero. He also misses out on the chaotic cookie-decorating parties, where I watch my kids struggle with dough and cry over ruined cookie shapes, all while making small talk with other moms who are equally exhausted but feel compelled to participate in these sugar-laden events.
My partner often wonders why I’m stressed and sleep-deprived by January. He looks at the calendar and sees just a few extra tasks in December. What’s the big deal, right? I just hold up my hand, forming a circle with my fingers, and softly whisper, “zero.”
If you’re feeling the weight of the holidays like I am, you’re not alone. For more insights on navigating this season, check out one of our other blog posts here. And if you’re looking for reliable resources on home insemination, consider visiting this excellent resource or exploring reputable online retailers for at-home insemination kits.
Summary
The holiday season can feel overwhelmingly misogynistic as one partner often bears the brunt of planning and executing holiday tasks. With obligations piling up, one parent might find themselves managing everything from gifts to cards, while their partner remains blissfully unaware. It’s a chaotic time that often leads to stress and exhaustion, highlighting the need for more equitable sharing of responsibilities during the festive season.