When I first tied the knot, I was absolutely thrilled at the thought of hosting my inaugural holiday gatherings in our brand new home. I can still picture myself joyfully strolling through the aisles of Target, picking out all the decorations to create a festive atmosphere during my favorite season. As first-time homeowners, we needed everything, and I may have gone a bit overboard.
I was determined to outshine Martha Stewart in the realm of holiday hosting. My Christmas and New Year’s celebrations were a whirlwind of twinkling lights, vibrant tulle bows, an array of homemade cookies, and plenty of wine. I had the holidays down to an art form—before kids came along. Now? Not so much.
Honestly, I’d trade all the gravy from my turkey-shaped gravy boat for someone else to take charge of the festivities. I can only imagine Martha Stewart chuckling at my current holiday setup, and I know my mom and mother-in-law secretly find it amusing to see how far I’ve fallen, especially with my store-bought cookies and haphazard outdoor lighting.
Between diapers, sippy cups, sleepless nights, and the endless cycle of carpooling, my holiday prep has taken a nosedive. Decorating the Christmas tree has transformed into a task I dread, and I often find myself scrambling to finish my shopping on time. Thankfully, Amazon Prime exists, or Santa would be showing up long after Christmas was over. In just a few years, I’ve gone from being a holiday superstar to the Lindsay Lohan of festive readiness.
Recently, I glanced at my calendar for an upcoming work event and was shocked to realize there are only eight weeks left until the holiday season kicks into high gear. As I stared at the calendar, mentally adding up all the school parties, craft supplies, gifts, and gatherings, I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me. Eight weeks to squeeze every Hallmark moment and picture-perfect memory into our already packed schedule? I’m exhausted, and the holidays haven’t even started yet.
Guess what, kids? Santa could be on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and it won’t be pretty.
I understand that striving for perfection during the holidays is a futile endeavor. Just keeping presents hidden from curious little eyes is enough to drive any mom to day-drinking, let alone worrying about the symmetry of the Christmas lights. I know I shouldn’t lose sleep over the type of wrapping paper I use or the Thanksgiving meal I serve.
However, it’s tough not to get swept up in the manufactured magic that’s pushed on us from October through December. It can be frustrating not to have the time to dedicate to tree decorating, cookie baking, and general merriment (though I always find time for eggnog).
I’ve come to realize my kids don’t really care if Santa’s gifts are wrapped in special paper or if I stick to my usual stocking stuffers. What matters most is the joy on their faces when we spend time together amidst the chaos of discarded wrapping paper and toys that seem impossible to unbox.
Still, moms handle the bulk of holiday planning, and this time of year always seems to catch me off guard. No matter how many times I vow to start my preparations earlier and manage my time better to avoid holiday stress, it never quite works out.
So, this year, if you happen to swing by during the holidays, you’ll observe my Christmas lights hanging a bit askew and some strands flickering oddly. You might notice that I neglected to display all the handmade ornaments from my kids’ kindergarten days, and I honestly have no clue where our advent calendar disappeared to. However, I’ll likely savor the festive spirit a bit more because when you let go of the pressure to create ten different types of cookies from scratch, the holidays seem a lot more enjoyable.
My gifts will probably be last-minute purchases, and my eggnog won’t be homemade, but I’ll make sure it has enough rum to help me get through the holiday haze more easily. And if my mother-in-law happens to be reading this, I’ll gladly share my spiked eggnog with you if you promise to keep making the Thanksgiving gravy, because I could really use the help these days.
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In summary, while the holidays can be overwhelming, it’s important to remember that joy comes from the moments shared with family rather than the perfection of our celebrations.