When I first tied the knot, I was bubbling with excitement to host my first holiday celebrations in our new place. I could hardly contain myself as I wandered the aisles of Target, gathering all the festive décor to transform our home into a winter wonderland. Being a first-time homeowner, I went a bit overboard, determined to outshine Martha Stewart in the holiday hosting game. Christmas and New Year’s were a whirlwind of twinkling lights, vibrant bows, a plethora of homemade cookies, and plenty of chardonnay.
Back then, I was the queen of the holidays, but now? Not even close. Honestly, I would trade all the gravy in my turkey-shaped boat to have someone else take the reins for the season. I can just picture Martha chuckling at my holiday operation now. And I can almost hear my mom and mother-in-law snickering at the sight of my store-bought cookies and the slapdash way I hang my lights.
Somewhere between diaper changes and sippy cups, my holiday cheer has taken a nosedive. Decorating the Christmas tree feels like a chore, and I’m usually caught off-guard when it comes to holiday shopping. Thank goodness for Amazon Prime; otherwise, Santa might as well arrive on December 28 in my house! It’s wild how quickly I’ve gone from Martha Stewart to the Lindsay Lohan of holiday prep.
Just recently, I glanced at my work calendar and panicked when I realized the holidays are only eight weeks away. My jaw dropped as I mentally tallied school parties, crafts, gifts, and gatherings that need to fit into our already jam-packed schedule. The holidays haven’t even begun, and I’m already drained. Guess what, kids? Santa is on the verge of a breakdown, and it’s not going to be pretty.
Let’s be real. I know perfection during the holidays is a myth. Even keeping presents hidden from curious little eyes can drive a mom to drink, let alone stressing over whether the Christmas lights are displayed evenly. I shouldn’t fret over the wrapping paper or the Thanksgiving feast. But it’s hard to resist the fabricated Hallmark magic shoved down our throats from October to December, and it’s infuriating not to have time for tree decorating, cookie baking, and good old-fashioned merriment (though I always make time for eggnog).
I’ve come to understand that my kids don’t care if Santa’s gifts come in special wrapping paper or if there are specific items in their stockings. What matters is the joy on their faces when we spend time together, surrounded by shredded wrapping paper and toys that are nearly impossible to unbox.
Still, it feels like moms bear the brunt of holiday planning, and I’m often caught off guard by how quickly it all arrives. No matter how many times I vow to start earlier and manage my time better to avoid holiday-induced stress, I never quite get it right.
So, this year, if you swing by during the festive season, you’ll notice my Christmas lights are a bit lopsided and some strands are blinking erratically. You might see that I’ve forgotten to hang up every treasured ornament from kindergarten, and I have no clue where our advent calendar went. But guess what? I’ll likely enjoy the festivities a bit more because letting go of the need to bake ten different types of cookies from scratch makes the season feel a little brighter.
My gifts will probably be last-minute buys, and my eggnog won’t be homemade, but you can bet it will have enough rum to make the holiday haze a bit more bearable. And if my mother-in-law happens to be reading this, I’ll happily share my spiked eggnog if she agrees to handle the Thanksgiving gravy forever, because I can’t navigate the holidays without extra support these days.
In summary, the holidays can be overwhelming, especially for moms juggling a million tasks. It’s a reminder that while we may not achieve perfection, the joy of togetherness and laughter is what truly matters.