During the early days of my marriage, I was overflowing with enthusiasm about hosting my inaugural holiday gatherings in our brand new home. I felt almost euphoric as I wandered through the aisles of Target, purchasing decorations to make the season feel magical. As first-time homeowners, we were in desperate need of festive decor, and I may have gone a bit overboard. My ambition was to outshine even Martha Stewart in the art of holiday hosting. My Christmas and New Year celebrations were a whirlwind of twinkling lights, bows of red tulle, an array of homemade cookies, and plenty of chardonnay.
I had the holidays all figured out back then—before kids entered the picture. Now? Not even close. Honestly, I would trade all the gravy in my turkey-shaped boat to have someone else manage the holiday chaos. I’m fairly certain Martha Stewart would find my current holiday efforts laughable, and I can see the smirks on my mother and mother-in-law’s faces at the sight of my store-bought cookies and my lackluster attempt at outdoor lighting.
Amidst the chaos of diapers, sippy cups, sleepless nights, and carpool duties, my ability to prepare for the holidays has tanked. Decorating the Christmas tree has turned into a dreaded chore, and I find myself scrambling to finish my holiday shopping on time. Thank goodness for Amazon Prime, or Santa would be showing up late this year! Somewhere along the line, I’ve transitioned from the holiday queen to the underachiever.
Just the other day, I glanced at my calendar for a work event and was hit with the realization that we only had eight weeks until the holidays would be in full swing. Looking at the upcoming events—school parties, craft supplies, gifts, and gatherings—I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me. We needed to cram every picture-perfect moment into our already packed schedule. The holiday season hasn’t even begun, and I’m already overwhelmed.
And let’s be real; I know perfection during the holidays is unattainable. Just trying to keep the kids from discovering the hidden presents is enough to make any mom consider day drinking, not to mention worrying about whether the Christmas lights are hung just right. I recognize that I shouldn’t care about the wrapping paper I use or the meal I prepare for Thanksgiving. Yet, it’s hard not to get swept up in the holiday ideals that flood our lives from October to December. It’s frustrating that I lack the time I wish I could spend on tree decorating, baking, and general merriment (though I always manage to find time for eggnog).
I’ve come to understand that my children don’t care about Santa’s specific wrapping paper or the traditions I used to uphold. What truly matters are the moments we share together, covered in wrapping paper and surrounded by toys that are nearly impossible to unpack. But as mothers, we often bear the weight of the holiday preparations, and I always feel blindsided by the rush of the season. Despite my best intentions to start planning earlier and manage my time better, I still find myself unprepared.
So, if you happen to visit during the holiday season, you’ll notice my Christmas lights may be a bit askew and some strands might be flickering erratically. You might see that I’ve forgotten to display every handmade ornament from my child’s kindergarten days and that I have no clue where our advent calendar ended up. However, I’ll embrace the joy of the season a little more, knowing that when I let go of the need to bake ten different types of cookies from scratch, the holidays shine a bit brighter. My gifts will likely be purchased at the last minute, and my eggnog won’t be homemade, but I’ll make sure it has enough rum to help me get through the festivities.
And if my mother-in-law happens to be reading this, I’d be happy to share my spiked eggnog with you if you’ll agree to handle the Thanksgiving gravy for eternity, as I can’t navigate the holidays without significant assistance these days.
In summary, the holiday season can often feel overwhelming, especially for mothers balancing countless responsibilities. While perfection may be out of reach, the focus should remain on shared experiences and joy, rather than the pressure of traditions and expectations.
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Keyphrase: Holiday preparedness for moms
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