Does this sound familiar? You start the holiday season feeling festive and full of good cheer. You have big plans and ambitions to make everything merry and bright for you and your family. But as your to-do list grows, so does your stress level. The next thing you know, you just want to settle in for a long winter's nap and not come out again until spring.
Even before I became a mom, I wanted nothing more than to give my family the gift of the most magical holiday season possible. First, I had to orchestrate amazing decorations. Then I would not only make festive treats but plan elaborate five-course meals. And let's not forget shopping 'til I dropped so I could shower my friends and family with impeccably wrapped, showstopping gifts!
No pressure.
I spent so much time and energy trying to pull off the perfect Christmas that, come December 25, I was run so ragged I hoped to never see another candy cane for the rest of my life. I would collapse after the last gift was unwrapped. Fa la la la la la la la ... ugh.
Each year I vowed to be smarter with my time and efforts, but I still wound up mindlessly repeating this vicious cycle. That is, until I was expecting my fifth child. Seven months pregnant, I ended up with pneumonia and a cracked rib. As miserable as I was, it was the year I received the best gift ever—the doctor ordered bed rest!
I had to rely on my husband and the grandparents to take over so that our kids would still have a Christmas. By no means did they do everything the way I would’ve done it. (Actually, they did nothing the way I would've done it!) But by letting go of the control, I watched a wonderful holiday unfold. I finally wasn’t in the trenches driving myself crazy trying to create a perfect holiday. Instead, I was living in the moment.
I knew right then that I was finally done with all the holiday hype.
De-stress this holiday season by deciding what's important
I still enjoy the magic of the holiday season, but now I approach this time of year with much less fuss.
If you've realized that spending time with loved ones is more important than pulling off the "perfect" holiday, think about what you can cut back on this year.
- No time to stage a photo card of your family this year? New Year’s cards are festive, too! Bonus: They might even stand out more if they arrive after the rush of holiday cards.
- Is it really necessary to spend time and money on gifts for teachers, bus drivers, teacher assistants, and the school nurse this holiday season? Have your child write a heartfelt card to these special folks instead.
- Does the Elf...
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