Holidays as a Mom

When we were children, holidays were magical. They were filled with bright lights, presents, and laughs with family. They are some of our greatest memories. However, when you are an adult they are definitely more stressful. You have your finals in your online nursing courses and overtime at work. We are in over drive trying to pay for presents and clean for the in-laws. It's hard to feel anything but stress. Here are a few helpful tips to help take some stress off of your holiday season.

Tip 1: Make a schedule for the week of your holiday.
Holidays are incredibly busy, especially if you are traveling. Make a list of everything that you must accomplish before you are able to celebrate. Use this list to create a schedule of what will be accomplished and when. This will help you to feel more in control and less like you're living in the land of holiday chaos.

Tip 2: Buy your supplies before you need them.
If you know that you will be cooking dinner for guest, there is no harm in getting a jump on the grocery shopping. Last minute holiday grocery trips are far more hectic and time consuming.

Tip 3: Be realistic.
A large portion of our holiday stress comes from trying to be over the top. The truth is we only have so much energy to use. We are not super heroes, though we surely try. It's okay if you didn't get to the center piece made from lemon roses or if you weren't able to make all the side dishes you wanted. The real requirement for any spectacular family holiday is love.

Tip 4: Enjoy the little things.
Many times when I'm starting to become truly stressed out I ask my children if they are excited about the festivities. I ask them their favorite part of what is about to unfold. It helps me center myself and realize that they re already having a great time. It's also fun to take a break and share some hot cocoa or get a hug. It helps to remind us what the point of all this mayhem really is.

Tip 5: Wear your children out.
Holidays are magical, but for young children there is a lot of down time. This is a great chance to get them outside. Have the grandparents take the little ones outside to run a bit. This will help to reduce the number of bodies in the kitchen. Tired children are also more likely to behave at the dinner table.

Tip 6: It is alright to ask for help.
Especially when we are hosting the holidays, there is a lot of stress and anxiety about making everything perfect. Women are expected to be the home maker, chef, the nurturing mother, and attentive hostess. The truth is we do a great job juggling those hat, but every now and then it is just overwhelming. This is when it's time to delegate. Ask your spouse to run to the store if you're out of milk. Order a turkey for thanksgiving if you are not going to have the time or oven space to cook it. Ask your sister to watch the children while your preparing dinner. These are all great times to get a bit of help. Trust me they won't mind or think less of you for it.

As long as we are the engineers behind our children's holiday's they are always going to be a bit worry-some. But our parents tried to keep the magic alive for us and we owe it to our children to do the same. Parents are amazing and tough. We are creative and caring. We selflessly wear ourselves to the bone to give the best that we can to our children. Try to remember to take time for yourself this holiday season. Relax and have a laugh with your loved ones. After all, what is the point of all this work if you can't enjoy it with your children. I hope these tips will make relaxing this holiday season just a little bit easier.