I can already hear the disbelief: “She wants to give up on Christmas? A mother of four? Christmas? The holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus, filled with joy and peace?” Yes, that very Christmas. I’m officially done. And by done, I mean I have had enough of the way we moms typically navigate the holiday season. It’s no longer about honoring our Savior’s birth. Instead, we find ourselves in a whirlwind of chaos and stress.
Here’s what the next month looks like for me:
- Holiday Card Photos: Is it just my family, or does anyone else find that the only successful holiday photo happens when all the kids are asleep? Getting four boys—and a grown man—to dress up, smile, and stand still for even a second is impossible. A few years back, I managed a decent shot only after taking 60 pictures filled with silly faces, crying, and chaos. By the end, I was sobbing, yelling, “All I want is ONE good picture!” Somehow, I got that shot. This year? I’m thinking of just using their school photos on festive paper and calling it a day. Revenge is sweet!
- The Holiday Letter: Everyone sends out those lengthy updates detailing their year, right? I can’t help but chuckle when I get them. “Johnny got his green belt! Katie swam across the pool!” In my mind, I’m tempted to send my own version: “This year, no promotions, no awards. My husband works hard and helps moms with babies on planes. My boys break everything, exhaust me daily, and I’m constantly cleaning up after them. But they’re healthy and manage to put up with me. Merry Christmas from the Morgans!”
- Decorating: Oh, Pinterest, how I despise you with your endless scrolling of beautiful holiday décor. I gave up on decorating the tree long ago after a disastrous year when the whole thing fell over! I now let the boys handle it; they decorate the bottom half, and I’ve learned to just go with the flow. This year, I’ll tie the tree to the wall before bringing out the ornaments.
- Holiday Parties: “Bring a dish! Exchange an ornament!” Seriously, where do all these parties come from? I used to host my share but quit after realizing the stress it caused my friends. Now, I feel guilty declining invitations and end up stressed about what to bring. No more parties for me, thank you very much!
- Christmas Plays: Before kids, I dreamed of having my little ones in charming Christmas plays. But after volunteering to run one at church, I found myself sewing costumes at 3 AM. This year, I’m just going to enjoy watching my kids perform without the chaos of organizing everything myself.
- Toy Assembly: The saga of Christmas Eve toy assembly is one for the ages. My husband always waits until the last minute, and we end up bickering over instructions and parts while bleary-eyed at 2 AM. I swear that this year, I’ll find a way to avoid this chaos altogether.
In the end, the joy of Christmas morning makes it all worthwhile. The laughter, the love, and the chaos are what truly matter.
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Summary:
This mom shares her frustrations and humorous take on the chaos surrounding the Christmas holiday, from holiday card photo shoots to the stress of toy assembly. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, she reflects on the joy that ultimately makes it all worthwhile.