Countdown to Christmas: Embracing the Chaos and Joy of the Season

It took us forever to decorate our tree this year. After having it up for two weeks, we finally got the lights and ornaments on it. Cue the broken ornaments. So far, we’ve lost two, one of which was my favorite bacon ornament! Let’s see how high the broken ornament count gets this season.

Christmas is seriously my favorite time of year—I look forward to it all year long. However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t get stressful. Between the decorating, shopping, baking, and balancing everyday mom duties, it’s a whirlwind. But amidst the chaos, there’s magic too. Here’s a look at how we’re surviving (and thriving) in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

I’m absolutely the person who starts decorating for Christmas too early. Once Halloween is over, the Halloween decorations come down, and the Christmas ones go up. This year, I had to let go of my perfectionism. My three-year-old insisted on arranging things her way, and if I moved them, she moved them right back. At this point, our décor is a delightful mix of chaos and charm.

One of our favorite family traditions is baking Christmas cookies with my parents, siblings, and their kids. This year, we took the chaos on the road and baked at my sister’s house out of town. Every year, the kids decorate one or two cookies, then the adults end up finishing the rest. It’s a mess, it’s exhausting, and I don’t think we’ll ever learn—but it’s also one of my favorite memories.

You don’t need to put up a million decorations to make your home feel festive. A little goes a long way! Also, save yourself some stress and keep breakable ornaments at the top of the tree.

The holidays are all about balance. Seeing moms on social media doing all the things can feel overwhelming. But here’s the thing: you don’t need to do everything. Make a list of what’s important to you and stick to it. Delegate tasks to your spouse, family, or friends—it’s okay to ask for help.

I’m terrible at resisting the urge to buy my kids all the toys. This year, I’m trying to control the toy overload by donating some of our older toys to make room for new ones. I’m also focusing on getting a smaller number of thoughtful gifts that I know my kids will truly enjoy.

Shopping for adults, especially my husband, is tough. Everything I think he’ll love always seems to be the most expensive option! This year, we agreed not to go all out on gifts for each other. I did pick out something small but thoughtful for him, though I can’t reveal what it is here (he’ll definitely read this).

Gift Tip: Choose something practical but special—something they wouldn’t buy for themselves.

Wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve has become a tradition for me. It feels like a satisfying way to wrap up (pun intended) the holiday season. If you want to avoid the last-minute stress, wrap gifts as you go and tackle a few at a time.

As someone who loves control, baking with kids can be a challenge. This year, I made the cookies while my kids napped so all they had to do was decorate them. It made the process much smoother—and I was a lot less stressed about the mess.

Easy Recipes for Kids: Sugar cookies are always a hit. They’re forgiving, fun to decorate, and delicious. Let me know if you want my go-to recipe—it’s a favorite in our house!

Luckily, my husband loves to cook, so he usually takes over the more complicated holiday recipes. For me, simple and festive meals are the way to go. Appetizers are always a hit with my kids—if they’re eating something, I’m happy.

This year, I’ve embraced imperfection. Watching my daughter get excited about decorating, even if it doesn’t look perfect, has been such a joy. Letting go of control has made the season much more enjoyable.

The holidays are magical through my kids’ eyes. From looking at neighborhood lights to driving through Candy Cane Lane, their bright-eyed excitement makes all the chaos worthwhile.

Simple Traditions: We started a tradition of taking a daily Polaroid photo in December and putting it in an advent calendar. Over the years, we’ll have a collection of December memories to look back on.

My biggest hack for last-minute shopping? Shop online or support local small businesses. Avoiding crowded big-box stores like Target is a sanity-saver.

When curveballs come (like sick kids or forgotten parties), flexibility is key. Whether that means calling in backup or reworking plans, having a plan B ready can make all the difference.

To avoid staying up all night, plan ahead. Assemble gifts that require building beforehand, wrap as much as possible in advance, and keep everything organized. Also, always open items as soon as they arrive to check for missing pieces or damage.

The weeks leading up to Christmas are a mix of chaos and joy. They’re not perfect, but that’s what makes them special. Let go of the pressure to make everything flawless and focus on the moments that matter.

What are your favorite holiday memories or traditions? Share them in the comments below—and let me know if you’d like my sugar cookie recipe. It’s truly the best!

Happy holidays! 🎄