Tis the season to be stressed

It's the most wonderful time of the year. The Christmas lights are twinkling bright, the smell of cookies fill the air and my three year old has thrown about 5 million tantrums. Yeah most wonderful time of the year, about that, I think it's more so the most stressful time of the year. Since when did this season become overloading your schedules to the max and putting yourself in debt to show others you love them? Tis the season to be stressed.

As I child I always found Christmas to be so magical, until I became a parent myself I really had no idea how "magical" it truly is. I give my mom major props for holding down the fort (and keeping herself together) every Christmas for myself and my four older siblings. I have one kid and I call myself lucky if I can get through a day without a break down of some sort or an anxiety attack. Merry Christmas to me right?

For some odd reason people get the idea that it's smart to plan all these activities not only at once but also at the busiest time of the year. These past week alone we had a dance recital, Christmas performance at school, two gingerbread making events, cookie making/decorating, doctor appointment and multiple Christmas parties. And that, well that is just the tip of the iceberg. On top of all these activities we also have school for Addie and myself, work, dance and swim. And oh yeah during all this I am expected to at some point find the time to do my Christmas shopping, wrap gifts, bake cookies and move that damn Elf every night (don't ask me how many times I've moved it at 3am). Tis the season to be stressed.

With the insane schedules, my three year old has felt it completely. She already is back and forth almost on a daily basis between mom and dads house and now with all of these added events, I feel like she hasn't really had a second to breathe. Poor girl is always being pulled in some direction and well, she has reached her breaking point. I think she is finding this time of year to be anything but magical. Except you know when she wakes up at 5:30 almost every morning to find the elf and do her chocolate advent calendar that she so loves (clearly my kid). Tis the season to be stressed.

This month has been exhausting on the both of us for so many reasons. From being in the final week of my semester to trying to get every Christmas activity in before she leaves for Christmas Eve, there truly is never enough time in the world for everything. I have found the need daily to remind myself to breathe (and go pee, teacher problem).

Tis the season to be stressed, but why? Why do we make it this way? Christmas isn't about how many presents you can put under the tree or how many different activities you can do. It isn't about wishing you had what others did or comparing yourself to someone's social media Christmas post. Christmas is about celebrating all that you are blessed enough to have, surrounding yourself with the ones you love most and eating way too many Christmas cookies. For the short time we have left this season, I am going to breathe. I am going to stress less (at least that's what I keep telling my anxiety) and I am going to love the wonderful people in my life. Oh and I am going to try and enjoy my unplanned (again keep telling myself that) winter break.

Tis the season to be stressed no more. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night (especially the moms whos kids who don't sleep, peace be with you).

~Maybe Christmas he thought doesn't come from a store, maybe Christmas he thought means a little bit more~ Dr. Seuss