Did you make room for “JOY” this Christmas?

We all deal with managing the Christmas Comparison Game and social media HAS NOT made it easier. We all want a beautiful Christmas for our families. Traditions they will remember. We all want kids that are grateful for what they have, appreciative for what others get them, and desperately don’t want our kids to grow up “entitled.” Many of us want to raise little humans to be thoughtful and generous to others – truly having empathy for the world around them. I have never met a mom that said “yea – I really think it would be cool to raise a law breaker – that’s my dream.”

This tree is stunning with its matching ornaments, pristine couches (clearly no kids!), gorgeous home…..definitely different than my house looks.

But are we killing our Christmas Joy in the process? Are we stressing over buying presents and having family in town and making the best cookies and doing all the parades and putting out all the decorations and and and…the list goes on.

I truly LOVE many of the above things – but many times I am so focused on creating this perfect holiday for everyone else that I am left exhausted, always feeling behind, and in a race to “do the next thing” before Christmas.

Why do we do this? Are we so busy chasing the “holiday spirit” that we forget to stop and enjoy the holiday?

Although I do think that is true, I think the issue is deeper. Let me give you a quick example – take your favorite fruit (mine are perfect strawberries) you love them. They are sweet and delicious. You are happy. Now take your most favorite dessert (mine = fudgy brownies). Once you take a bite, its artificial sweetness takes over. Even though you LOVE strawberries, when you eat them AFTER the brownies, they taste less sweet.

I think this is similar to our momma responsibilities over the holidays. We are good with our “strawberry lives” until we meet another momma with a “brownie life.” You see her baking fresh gingerbread houses, having the best outside decorations, doing the most fun “Christmas themed” things with her wonderful children. And there you are – once content, now behind. So, you look up recipes for gingerbread and put Hobby Lobby on your list for some crafty junk and look at the outside of your house and say “yea I bet I can get some great things from Lowes at the end of this season” and add that to your list.

Like actual brownies – you can’t eat just one. You see all these moms doing all the things that you are not doing and end up doing 1 of 2 things. Trying desperately to add things to the list or shutting down and feeling “down” about not being “that” mom.

I know you already know this, but I am going to say it anyway. Your kids do not care about how MUCH you do. They care about your HEART while you are doing it. You can do everything under the sun but if you are stressed out and overwhelmed, they can feel it. Having kids cry over gingerbread houses and getting snapped at by an overwhelmed mommy does not spell “joy.” Do you want to leave them with the feeling like you don’t actually like Christmas? Of course not.

Try these 5 things to help manage the Christmas Comparison game:

1. Do an activity with your kids but take NO PICTURES. Not 1.😊 take in the full memory. Capture it with your heart NOT a camera.

2. Take 1 thing off your list. I promise your holiday will not be ruined if you remove one thing. Be intentional about having joy in what you are doing.

3. Ask for help with 1 thing. You are not weak. It is not because you CAN’T. It is because you don’t have to. Remember how good it feels when you get to help others? Let someone bless you with a little help.

4. Hug your kid(s) with intention. Think about the first time you held them and how much your heart exploded when they came into your life.

5. Give thanks. Whether you celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus, decorations and joy, or family togetherness. Take 5 minutes. Close your eyes and think about what you are thankful for and not your to do list.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. From one mom to another – I am here for you. Truly. Message me on FB, comment below, or send me an email. You aren’t alone. You are doing great. If you enjoyed this share it – not for “FB algorithms” or something silly but because us moms compare too much and need simple, actionable items to remove things from our plates to allow room for joy.

Love your strawberry life - you are rocking it :)