’Tis the season to feel overwhelmed and overjoyed.
I couldn’t sleep last night. I woke up at 2 a.m. panicking about all the things I have to accomplish in the next seven days. The countdown to Christmas is real, and I’m my own veritable advent calendar of holly-jolly traditions, festive activities and obligatory outings.
As the officially unofficial holiday magic maker in my family, the pressure to create joy, spread cheer and make memories is intense—and I’m starting to crack like a pre-assembled gingerbread house. The truth is: I have a love/hate relationship with the seasonal role that I’ve been thrust into. On the one hand, I enjoy the crescendo to Christmas Day—the excitement, the anticipation . Seeing my kids’ eyes light up when Santa comes rolling through the neighborhood in a fire truck brings me immense glee. Hearing the wonder in their tiny little voices as they sing carols at concerts and shows makes me positively giddy.
But, inevitably, the flip side of taking on this month-long gig shows its grim, Grinchy face. The frosting-induced tantrums, the perpetually changing present wish-lists, the whines as we wait in a three-hour line for a three-minute visit with St. Nick, the forced photos, the unspeakable expenses, the jam-packed social calendars, the bumper-to-bumper traffic, the almost demonic post-candy-cane crash.
Then, of course, there’s the utter exhaustion that comes with doing all the things for all the people, buying every gift for every family member, making tons of food for tons of meals . Plus, on top of the usual default parenting tasks, I get to take on the whimsical work of a mythical, jelly-bellied man. And, unlike the big guy, I don’t have elves to pick up the slack! Still, as default parents, we do it all, knowing we can’t claim credit, happily accepting that we won’t get the glory.
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