I set out yesterday to buy a pair of swim goggles. It’s still summer, so I figured it would be easy. With swim season still going strong and temperatures soaring to 99 degrees, kids are still enjoying their swimsuits late into the evening.
Instead of goggles, I stumbled upon a holiday-themed gift bag brimming with anxiety—specifically, Christmas holiday stress. As I attempted to navigate through aisles lined with pool toys and beach gear, I found myself confronted with displays overflowing with school supplies—composition books, markers, and shiny new lunchboxes.
Just one aisle over, a clerk was stacking pumpkin-shaped trick-or-treat buckets alongside autumn garlands. And behind her, I could have sworn I saw another employee setting up an artificial Christmas tree next to a hand-carved Nativity scene.
Seriously, what is going on?
We’re still over four months away from the jolly man in the red suit making his arrival, yet I’m already feeling the effects of pre-Christmas stress. And do not even think about visiting your local craft store; last week, it was bursting with patriotic décor, and today, it resembles a scene straight out of the North Pole.
Even Pinterest is in on it. I searched for refreshing summer cocktails and was bombarded with Elf on the Shelf ideas—in July! This is just not right.
I need a break from this holiday madness because I am not ready to dive in—or maybe I never will be. It seems we barely drop our kids off at school in the fall before the Christmas shopping frenzy kicks into high gear. Halloween has become a fleeting moment on the calendar, and Thanksgiving? It’s practically nonexistent. Christmas just crashes the party in September.
You mean to tell me that by October 1, if you’re not done shopping, you’re somehow falling behind? By November 1, my entire December is already booked with events, from school plays to cookie swaps, holiday office parties, and enough festive obligations to make even Mrs. Claus consider a stress-relief cocktail. I haven’t even packed away my beach gear, and my neighbor is already hanging up Christmas lights.
To top it off, last year, I received my first Christmas card in the mail the day after Thanksgiving. I did some quick math and realized that family must have planned their holiday photo shoot in August, coordinating matching sweaters, hiring a photographer, and mailing dozens of cards before November rolled in. Meanwhile, I was still gathering school supplies.
If you’re anything like me, the bulk of the Christmas to-do list falls squarely on your shoulders. All the shopping, cooking, planning, and hosting—it all lands on moms like us. It’s not that I resent this responsibility; it’s just that it’s thrust upon me far too early—well before anyone is ready.
The pressure to create the ideal Christmas for my family used to hit me around December 20. Now? While I’m grilling hot dogs in the summer heat, I’m mentally compiling a grocery list for a gingerbread house decorating party that’s 18 weeks away. Forget that sugar-coated stress!
This year, I’m hitting the pause button—no, I mean a big pause. I’m committed to processing one season at a time, one month at a time, one holiday at a time. I will savor red, white, and blue popsicles with my kids until the very last moment of summer and refuse to look ahead to pumpkins, stockings, or anything else until I’m completely ready, and not a moment sooner.
I’ll be steering clear of the holiday aisles until the temperatures dip below 40 degrees, and I won’t even think about a Christmas to-do list until my pilgrims and handprint turkey placemats are tucked away. Stressing myself out months in advance? Not this year, folks.
Moms, who’s with me?
For further insights on managing holiday stress, check out this excellent resource on artificial insemination and remember to take care of yourself, too. If you want to explore more about self-care and mindfulness, consider visiting this authority on mindfulness. And for more fun tips on family planning, don’t miss out on our home insemination kit blog post!
Summary:
The article humorously addresses the overwhelming holiday stress that begins long before Christmas, lamenting how early the holiday season starts encroaching on our lives. Jessica emphasizes the importance of enjoying each season without rushing into the next, advocating for self-care and mindfulness amid the chaos of holiday preparations.