I ventured out yesterday to grab a pair of swim goggles. It’s still summer, so this should be a breeze, right? The swim season is in full swing, the temperature is a scorching 99 degrees, and those long summer nights are perfect for kids in their bathing suits until bedtime.
But instead of goggles, I stumbled upon a gift bag bursting with holiday anxiety—yes, Christmas anxiety—slapping me right in my sunscreen-slicked face.
Could I leisurely browse through aisles of fun summer toys? Nope! Instead, I found shelves stocked with composition notebooks, colorful markers, spiral notebooks, and shiny new lunch boxes. Just one aisle over from those back-to-school supplies, a clerk was stacking Halloween buckets on top of autumn leaf garlands. And behind her? I swear I spotted someone assembling a Christmas tree next to a hand-carved Nativity set.
What is going on here? We’re still over four months away from Santa’s big night, yet I’m already feeling the stress of the holiday season creeping in. Don’t even get me started on craft stores! Just last week, they were overflowing with red, white, and blue for the Fourth of July; today, it looks like Santa’s workshop exploded in there.
And Pinterest? I went searching for refreshing summer cocktails and was bombarded with Elf on the Shelf ideas. In July!
Enough is enough!
It seems we barely settle back into the school year before the Christmas shopping frenzy kicks off. Halloween has become just a blip on the radar, and Thanksgiving? Practically nonexistent! Christmas rolls in as early as September. If you aren’t done with your shopping by October 1st, heaven forbid! By November 1st, my entire December calendar is crammed with holiday events, school plays, and enough festive obligations to make even Mrs. Claus consider a Xanax-laced eggnog. I haven’t even stowed away my beach gear, and my neighbor’s already hanging up Christmas lights!
To make matters worse, last year, I received my first Christmas card the day after Thanksgiving. That family apparently had their act together enough to coordinate matching sweaters, schedule a photographer, and send out cards before I was done buying school supplies.
If you’re anything like me, the bulk of the Christmas to-do list lands squarely on your shoulders. All the shopping, cooking, and planning? Yep, that’s my gig. And it’s starting way too early for my liking. The pressure to create the perfect Christmas for my family used to hit me in mid-December, but now? I’m mentally drafting a grocery list for a gingerbread house party while grilling hot dogs in the sweltering heat. No thanks to that sugar-sprinkled stress cookie!
This year, I’m hitting the pause button—no, scratch that—I’m slamming it down. I’m going to savor each season one month at a time, one holiday at a time. I’ll enjoy red, white, and blue popsicles with my kids until the summer sun sets for good. I refuse to entertain thoughts of pumpkins, stockings, or shelf-sitting elves until I’m good and ready.
I’m keeping my distance from the holiday aisles until the temperature drops below 40 degrees, and I won’t even think about Christmas lists until every last pilgrim and handprint turkey is packed away.
No more stressing months ahead of time! Who’s with me?
For more tips on managing the ins and outs of family life, check out our other post about home insemination—there’s plenty of great advice in one place, just like you’ll find at CDC’s pregnancy resources.
Summary
In this humorous reflection, Jenna L. Hart emphasizes the overwhelming stress that holiday preparations can bring, especially when they begin far too early in the year. She advocates for taking things slow, enjoying each season, and avoiding the early holiday rush. Moms everywhere can relate to the pressures of creating the perfect Christmas, and she encourages embracing the present moment.