When I first got married, the thought of hosting holiday festivities in our new home filled me with excitement. I felt like I was floating through the aisles of Target, gathering everything I needed to create a magical atmosphere for my favorite season. As new homeowners, we required all the decorations, and I might have gone a bit overboard. I was determined to outshine even the most seasoned holiday hosts. Christmas and New Year’s Eve turned into a whirlwind of twinkling lights, vibrant bows, homemade cookies, and copious amounts of wine.
Back then, I was the queen of the holidays. Fast forward to now, and it’s a completely different story. Honestly, I would trade all the gravy in my turkey-shaped dish for someone else to take the reins this season. I can only imagine the laughter of my mother-in-law and my own mom when they see the store-bought cookies and my half-hearted attempts at outdoor lighting.
Amid the chaos of diapers, sippy cups, and sleepless nights, my holiday spirit has dwindled. What once was a joyful tradition of decorating the Christmas tree has turned into a dreaded task, and I often find myself scrambling to finish my shopping on time. Thank goodness for online shopping, or Santa would be showing up well after Christmas this year. In just a few short years, I’ve gone from being a holiday guru to someone who feels like they’re just barely keeping their head above water.
Recently, I checked my calendar and panicked. With only eight weeks until the holidays were in full effect, I felt overwhelmed just thinking about the school events, crafting, shopping, and parties we’d need to squeeze into our already packed schedule. Even before the holiday season kicks off, I’m already worn out.
Let’s be real—perfection during the holidays is a myth. The stress of hiding gifts and ensuring the Christmas lights are perfectly strung can make any mom want to pour herself a drink. I know I shouldn’t care about the wrapping paper I choose or the dishes I prepare for Thanksgiving, but it’s hard not to get sucked into the commercialized magic that’s pushed on us from October to December.
I’ve come to understand that my children won’t remember the specific wrapping paper or the little traditions I always uphold. What matters most is the joy we share together, surrounded by shredded wrapping paper and new toys that seem impossible to unbox. Still, I feel the pressure of holiday responsibilities weighing heavily on me, and every year it catches me off guard. Despite my best intentions to start early and manage my time better, I always end up feeling overwhelmed.
So, this holiday season, if you swing by, don’t be surprised to see my Christmas lights hanging at odd angles, and that I might have forgotten to display all the handmade ornaments from my kids’ early school years. You might even notice that I’ve misplaced our advent calendar. But I’ll embrace the chaos a little more this time because letting go of the need to create a perfect holiday experience makes everything feel brighter. My gifts may be last-minute purchases, and my eggnog may not come from scratch, but I promise it will have enough rum to help weather the holiday storm.
And if my mother-in-law happens to read this, I’d be more than happy to share my festive drink with her in exchange for her legendary Thanksgiving gravy because I truly can’t navigate the holiday season without a little support these days.
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Summary:
The holiday season can be overwhelming, especially for busy parents juggling multiple responsibilities. While striving for perfection is tempting, embracing the chaos and focusing on family moments is what truly matters.