I’ve always loved the Christmas Season! The bright lights and festive decorations, annual watching of classic Christmas movies, spending intentional time with loved ones, and making special family recipes are just a few of the joys of this season.
This wonderful time of year became even more fun once I had kids! Writing a letter to Santa, meeting Santa, driving around looking at lights, jamming out to holiday tunes in the car, eating lots of Christmas cookies (and putting them out for Santa!). The anticipation and excitement of Christmas morning and the look on their faces when they get down the stairs literally bring tears to my eyes every year.
But all this JOY and FESTIVE fun takes a lot of work. While 100% worth it, it’s a lot. The mental load of this season can become so heavy and exhausting. So this year, let’s make sure the moms have fun too! It’s our right to enjoy the holiday season just as much as the rest of our family.
Here are some of my favorite mom hacks to make the holiday season more enjoyable and manageable for the magic makers:
Make a gift list (not just the one for Santa!)
Use an Excel spreadsheet or a Notes app to make a list of gifts. Divide by child, separate (or color code) by purchased/not purchased, arrived/in transit. Add a column for cost if you’re looking to stay within a certain range.
If you have a partner, upload the sheet to Google Drive so you can both keep it updated.
Use this list for ANY gift you need to get: family members, teachers, Yankee swaps, or mail carrier. Designate who is responsible for which gifts and divide up the list with your partner if possible. Add a column for when the gift needs to be given, as with various parties and obligations, it can get confusing!
Wrap along the way
Don’t wait until after bedtime on Christmas Eve when you’re running on empty. Wrap gifts as they come in.
Use a different wrapping paper for each child so you don’t have to label each gift. Or use gift sacks instead of wrapping paper to expedite the process.
Hide gifts strategically
A zippered or locked suitcase is a great spot! For larger gifts, keep them at a neighbor’s house or a family member’s house (you can even have the gift shipped to someone else’s home). Hide in the furnace room with a large sheet over the top and boxes around to act as a barrier.
Shop early
Reduce stress by shopping EARLY. Save items in an Amazon list and check periodically for price drops.
Save money
By purchasing gifts on Facebook Marketplace or scoring a free item from your local Buy Nothing Group. My three-year-old had no idea that the Paw Patrol Tower Santa brought her was previously well-loved by a boy down the street. In the early years, you can definitely get away with gifting lightly used items.
Score a free Santa photo.
The days of waiting in line at the mall to buy an overpriced photo with Santa are long gone. Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shop both offer free photos with Santa. You can reserve a timeslot online. Santa arrives at the beginning of November, so if you want to check this off your list early on—go for it!
Santa can also be found around town at various events. Check locally for Santa’s breakfast events, town tree lightings, etc. There were so many Santas around our town last year that I had to explain to my daughter that Santa has a lot of “helpers” since he can’t be everywhere at once.
Use store-bought cookies for a cookie swap
Yup, I said it. It may be cringy to those who love to bake fresh cookies, but for some moms, it’s a lifesaver. Some cookie swaps require you to bring multiple dozen cookies…this can be very daunting, especially if the cookie swap is on a day you are busy and have limited baking time. Some people don’t have the bandwidth to find multiple recipes and ingredients…or deal with the mess when their toddler wants to get involved in the baking. Let’s agree to take the shame out of store-bought cookies this holiday season. You could also purchase from a local bakery and support a small business!
I wish you all a happy holiday season with minimal meltdowns and loads of gratitude for all the cheer you are spreading for your family!
