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Christmas stress

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Christmas is supposed to be a season filled with joy, twinkly lights, and family traditions that wrap everyone in a sense of comfort, but for many modern families, especially those navigating co-parenting, the holidays can quickly turn into a complicated mix of logistics, emotions, and negotiations that begin long before the first snow falls. While every parent dreams of a peaceful December, the truth is that the holidays often highlight the invisible work required to make the season feel magical for kids, and it is a balancing act that parents are starting to discuss more openly. Parents are sharing more of these stories at school drop-off, and on Reddit threads that run hundreds of comments deep, not because they enjoy venting, but because holidays in two homes require a level of coordination that simply did not exist when we were kids. This is the part of Christmas no one prepared…

I LOVE the Christmas season; It gives me strong Christmassy vibes at the first sign of a snowflake. The magic, the smells, the family time, and the joy it brings the kids. Having said that, I also find it to be a stressful time. Like many moms, I feel the burden from the most wonderful time of the year. This is the first year that I have considered Elf on the Shelf. My daughter is now at an age where she’ll hear stories from classmates about the shenanigans their Elves are getting into. As an Elf newbie, I am considering whether I want to bring this relatively new tradition to my family. I just don’t know if I’m one of those families—an Elf family.  This time of year, my sanity hangs like a heavy Christmas ornament on a floppy tree branch. The season is labor-intensive and stressful, and busy. You’re…