The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy, love, and togetherness, but unfortunately, it can also be a time of stress and conflict. This is especially true when you have to spend time with toxic family members or deal with inappropriate comments about you, your children, or your parenting choices. There are ways to deal with toxic comments from family during the holidays. It is not uncommon for baby boomers to be known for making rude and inappropriate comments, even discriminatory. However, what makes things worse is that they often try to justify their behavior using excuses that are not particularly valid. For instance, some may claim that they are too old to change their ways, that they are only speaking their minds, that their comments are harmless, that your generation is too sensitive, or that they’ve raised three kids, so they know best! Generally, I’d say…
In his classic song, Andy Williams sings, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” but that’s likely because he’s not a mom putting every ounce of energy into trying to make the whole experience magical for everyone.
If you’re already decking the halls and singing Christmas songs at the top of your lungs, chances are you’re getting prepared for the holiday season. This time of year is supposed to be full of joy, laughter and rest. For moms, however, it can be a time of stress, exhaustion and overwhelm. Here are five simple ways to overcome feeling overwhelmed this holiday season.
Every year, I tell myself that I’m not going to let the holidays stress me out. And every year, despite my best efforts, I end up frazzled and fatigued. Maybe the problem is that I’m setting a random goal but not doing specific things to create a different outcome. This year, that’s going to change. I have compiled a list of 25 small but impactful steps that you (and I) can take to keep things on track and enjoy the season more. That said, I’m guessing you don’t even have time to read this whole list. The tips are organized into 4 categories – prioritizing, shopping, coping and connecting – so feel free to jump to the section that interests you. There, you’ll find some suggested mini tactics to help ease your holiday burden. PRIORITIZING Pause and reflect. Time for some big-picture thinking. Can you clearly identify which holiday traditions…