Ahhh, Christmas: the most wonderful time of year. It’s a season of love, family, joy and peace; carols playing on the radio and twinkling lights aglow on house after house down the street. There’s fresh snow on the ground and magic in the air. Oh, and parents killing each other at the mall because there are only two LOL dolls left on the shelf.
That part is less magical.
The holidays are a time of tradition. Some are so long standing we don’t even question them anymore. Like, I know there’s a reason we bring a live tree into our house and wrap lights and shiny, fragile things around it but I can’t remember what it is. Or turkey. Delicious, but I personally am unclear as to how stuffing, cooking and eating this particular breed of poultry became synonymous with the birth of baby Jesus.
The holidays are a time of tradition. Some are so long standing we don’t even question them anymore. Like, I know there’s a reason we bring a live tree into our house and wrap lights and shiny, fragile things around it but I can’t remember what it is. Or turkey. Delicious, but I personally am unclear as to how stuffing, cooking and eating this particular breed of poultry became synonymous with the birth of baby Jesus.
Mom bloggers get a lot of love in the digital world, but you know who else is killing it with humour, parenting wisdom, domestic tips and overall awesomeness?
DADS.
Ask anyone who’s ever shopped for a tween girl and they’ll tell you it’s one of the most fiery circles of hell you’re ever likely to encounter. Why? Because tween girls are picky. And by “picky” I mean hell hath no fury like the girl who wanted millennium pink and got pale pink kind of picky.
When the holidays roll around each year, we all feel the pressure to give our children a magical, memorable Christmas. Sometimes, that means we end up putting a ridiculous number of gifts under the tree. I mean, we all want to see those little faces light up, right? But if you think back to previous Christmases, how many of those gifts were played with for a day or two and then cast aside? How many were broken within the first week? (I’ve lost count with our youngest!) So, wouldn’t it be better to give our children fewer, but more thoughtful, gifts that they’ll REALLY love and appreciate?
Tell me if this sounds familiar…
When it comes to self-care as a new mom, you have to think like you’re taking off on a holiday. (Trust me; I’m going somewhere with this.) And, while any new mom will tell you that early postpartum life is hardly a vacay, there is a pearl of wisdom perfect for new mama self-care that you’ve likely heard recited by your flight attendant just before take-off: You must put on your own oxygen mask first.
Just when you thought every possible angle of parenting had been explored in print, KJ Dell’Antonia has uncovered not just an important question, but possibly the central question most of us ask at some point: why can’t parenting be more fun? Or, less eloquently, why can’t it suck just a little less?
“I think I’m going to start calling you Mom” he said casually.