Homestretch, Mommy Clause, homestretch. And in case no one has reminded you yet this year, when it comes to getting everything ready for your kiddos for Christmas, you are doing a wonderful job.
If you got all of your family members matching Christmas jammies (bonus points if you actually made them yourself) and organized a family portrait, great job!
If you forgot to order jams or they weren’t in the budget, or last year’s still fit and who would know, or maybe it is just not your thing. No worries, I’m proud of you for recognizing that – I doubt your babies will even notice.
If you were able to get those family pictures made into cards – or handwrite messages to all your family and friends and Christmas cards are already in the mail and on their way, then you are incredible.
If not one single card was written – nor will it be – or maybe it will be delivered in January, regardless, I promise your friends and family still know you care about them and you are doing a marvelous job.
If you hung 400 strands of lights all over the outside of your house, bought blow-up decorations and covered the windows with Christmas clings, then you are doing remarkable.
If Christmas lights weren’t a thing this year – there wasn’t time to put them up – or last year’s wouldn’t work and you never purchased more, maybe it just got too late and it seemed unreasonable to put them up just for a week or two. Regardless, you are still a Rock Star.
If you managed to hit every single adventure this time of year – from Santa visits, looking at Christmas lights, every play and musical – soaked up all the magic, then, way to go!
If you only were able to attend one or two of these things, or even downright missed them altogether, but you are still smiling and surviving right along with your kids this season, nice work! Keep it up.
If you have already purchased, wrapped and accounted for every single present and are ready to go come Christmas Eve, you are killing it!
If you haven’t even started buying – or have to still get through what you have purchased to see what is left. If you are waiting until one more payday to finish up or simply haven’t had the time. Even if you are finishing up shopping and wrapping on Christmas Eve, you are still doing fabulous!
If you have spent a day in the kitchen with family making all sorts of yummy treats – cookies and candy – making messes and memories, that is awesome.
If you have been too exhausted to do any baking and spent the evenings cuddling on the couch with your kiddos soaking up snuggles, way to show your love.
If you made all the plans for family get-togethers – where, when, who is bringing what – and you are all ready to go – maybe even picked up the groceries already, fantastic work!
If you don’t even know what Christmas Day looks like, who will be there or what the menu will be – but you know you will be surrounded by the warmth of your children, then you are winning.
This time of year can be so very stressful for parents – let’s be honest – especially Moms. And so often we don’t get a pat on the back for all the hard work we put into it. On top of that, we let the stress of comparison steal our joy.
I don’t know about you but I oftentimes see what so many others have done and feel like I am just not keeping up – like Christmas with my girls is not going to measure up because I didn’t do this or that.
Quick, better post this one pic where we actually did get to see Santa! Sure it was a 45-minute wait for 45 seconds with Santa, but no one needs to know that.
When the reality of it is that not all of our Christmases look the same – not in comparison to our friends and not even in comparison to the past. Maybe this year looks different, maybe we did miss out on a few things or did not have the time or funds to complete some of the events that we did a year ago, but that does not mean that this year is any less amazing.
As you push on this final week before Christmas, just know that your Christmas this year with your family is just that – yours. And regardless of what that looks like — even if it doesn’t look like years past or doesn’t look like someone else’s, it is perfect.
And, remember that you, Mama, are doing a mind-blowing job creating a magical Christmas full of memories for you and your family.
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