Surviving the Holidays: Mom Edition

“I had a lot of help from Jack Daniels.” – Christmas Vacation

I feel like a lot of us moms can relate to this quote. If you can’t, please share your secret with me.

The holidays are rough. Throw 2020 in the mix and you have a whole new level of holiday stress. Shipping delays, ever changing travel restrictions, making new Christmas traditions, groceries being hit or miss, it is enough to drive any person crazy without adding in the children.

One thing I have noticed this year is that it has made me expect less. I truly mean that in the best way possible. Instead of being the extra extravagant Christmas person that I normally am, it has made me calm down and get back to the basics. We normally are rushed (aren’t we all) with multiple holiday parties, shopping for all of the parties and family events we will be going to, squeezing in every holiday themed event known to man in the area, and for me spending hours in the kitchen. You will find out that I love to bake so everyone counts on me during the holidays for desserts. It creates more chaos than happiness I am realizing for our family.

2020 has made us SLOW DOWN. I am not going to lie, at first, I was depressed. Like everything else this year, we have had to change our routine. Below are some of the best tips I can give any new mom for surviving 2020 holidays and holidays to come. Not listed below is wine, but let’s be honest, if you do not already know that wine helps any situation this might not be the blog for you.

Tips for Survival:

1. Take the easy way out and do not apologize for it!

Everything you do does not have to be Instagram / Pinterest perfect. Let me repeat. Everything you do does not have to be Instagram / Pinterest perfect. I get it. I am as guilty as anyone for wanting to “stage” a picture so it looks perfect for the gram. It is so hard not to when it seems like everyone else’s life is picture perfect. But let’s be real. That takes so much extra time that we do not have that could be used to get more quality time in with the kiddos. Do not get me wrong. I will always be taking pictures of EVERYTHING that we do. That is just who I am. But I decided this holiday to not stress the small stuff. Buy the precut sugar cookies to decorate, post the picture of your kids scream crying with Santa, share the secret your less uptight is due to finally taking care of your mental health. Be You. Be Genuine. Take Care of Yourself. Make the small decisions that make it easier on you. Your family and friends will love you more for it.

2. Decide which traditions mean the most, and do not feel bad for not “doing it all”.

It is nice to be loved and have lots of friends and family. It makes you feel special and that you have it all together. I am not saying be a b*t@#. But sometimes for the sake of your sanity, you are going to have to just say, “no”. We cannot do it all. We cannot accept all the invites. We cannot commit to making 10 deserts or dishes. We cannot participate in every single family tradition our families have. We CAN choose which traditions and commitments are the most important to us and be present at them 100%.

It has taken me a long time to get the hang of not over extending myself. I have always been the “yes” person. This year has finally been the year I have started saying “no”, and I have realized it actually makes me a better person. When you over extend yourself, you are not truly present or committed to anything. So, choose your traditions and commitments carefully. Make the ones that you choose absolutely amazing and do not fret over the ones that you choose not to do or make. Trust me, everyone will thank you for it.

3. Always do what is best for your family.

Set boundaries. I cannot give this advice enough to new moms or anyone for that matter. Boundaries keep you sane and grounded. They protect you and the ones that you love. If something doesn’t feel quite right, if you honestly just can’t stand visiting a specific family member, if you do not like your babies being at a certain family gathering, if you know drinking two bottles of wine will ruin the night for everyone, just DO NOT DO IT. Set guidelines. If people can not follow them or respect your boundaries, you may need to have a conversation with your self and/or spouse about changing plans or making conditions. No one should have to be in a situation they are not comfortable or not respected. Never forget that.

I hope this advice was helpful to all new moms or friends navigating the holidays. 2020 has been weird, and when all else fails, grab a glass of your favorite pour and chill.

XOXO

– Paige