I can hear your thoughts, “She wants to QUIT Christmas? A mom of four? CHRISTMAS? You mean the celebration of Jesus’ birth, Joy to the World, Peace on Earth…that Christmas?” Uh, yes. That’s the one.
No more NO-EL for me. I am officially D-O-N-E, and when I say done, I mean with how we mothers end up observing Christmas. It’s not about celebrating our Savior anymore. Forget Silent Nights, Midnight Clears, or Peaceful Gentlemen. Instead, brace yourself for the next 30 days filled with the so-called ‘Joy’ and ‘Christmas’ spirit like this…
1. The Christmas Card Photo Shoot
Maybe it’s just my family, but the most successful holiday photo I’ve managed was when all my kids were ASLEEP. Getting four boys and one grown man to wear nice clothes, smile, and stand still for more than .3 seconds? Impossible! I think I need a bottle of sedatives for them. One year, I did manage a decent shot after snapping 60 pictures—half of which featured tongues out or tantrums. By snapshot 59, I was sobbing and shouting, “All I want is ONE decent picture!” That fleeting moment of shock resulted in a miracle shot. This year? I might just use their generic school photos, slap them on some festive paper, and call it a day.
2. The Christmas Letter
Everyone receives at least one lengthy letter detailing the “year in review” for the “Smith” family. If you’re one to write these, skip to the next point. If you enjoy a chuckle over the elaborate tales of others, you know what I mean. “Johnny got his green belt! Katie swam across the pool! Our kids are ALL STARS!” Oh, how I’m tempted to share my own update: “Dear friends, this year, nobody got promoted. My husband works hard and helps parents on planes. My kids? They’ve destroyed everything we own but are surprisingly polite. I’ve run a marathon just to keep my sanity. Merry Christmas from the Parkers!”
3. Decorating
Pinterest, I curse you! I gave up on decorating my Christmas tree years ago. After spending an entire day meticulously arranging lights and ornaments, it took mere moments for a kid to demolish my efforts with a toy car. Now, I let the boys have at it. Last year, as I admired the twinkling lights, the whole tree fell over—an epic disaster that didn’t even faze me anymore. I’ve learned to embrace the chaos. This year? I’ll tie that tree to the wall before I bring out the ornaments.
4. Holiday Parties
“Bring a covered dish! An ornament to exchange! A $10 gift!” Why do we have so many parties? I used to host cookie swaps until they became too overwhelming. Yet, I still feel guilty declining invites. I want to be a good friend, but then it morphs into WORK—more cooking, more buying, more wrapping. I’m calling a halt to all holiday parties this year—let’s just exchange valentines later!
5. The Christmas Plays
Before kids, I envisioned adorable little angels and a perfect Mary for our church Christmas play. Instead, I ended up managing a bunch of shepherds. I once volunteered to write and produce a play, only to find myself sewing costumes at 3 AM. Nowadays, I’ve learned to say “No” to helping out. I’ll just sit back, watch my boys perform, and enjoy the show.
6. The Toy Assembly
Ah, Christmas Eve toy assembly, a.k.a. the “Clamshell Packaging Conflicts.” No matter how early I buy the toys, my husband always waits until the last minute. There we are, sleep-deprived and bickering over toy assembly instructions at 2 AM. “Who are all these toys for?” he asks, clueless and exhausted. It’s a miracle our marriage survives these nights, but somehow, every Christmas morning, it feels worthwhile when they run out ecstatic.
Of course, it’s all worth it in the end. When they tear open their gifts, I almost forget the stress of the last few hours, much like childbirth and morning sickness.
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In summary, Christmas can feel like a chaotic whirlwind for busy moms, but amidst the chaos, there are moments of joy and laughter that make it all worthwhile.
Keyphrase: Christmas chaos for busy moms
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