A Message For Stressed-Out Parents This Holiday Season

I live in a new neighborhood. So it’s been fun the last few weeks walking around to enjoy the assortment of holiday decorations. My environs have taken on an entirely magical quality.

I’m amazed at the amount of work people put into the outside of their homes. Which leads me to believe the inside of their homes are equally impressive.

Pinterest comes to life.

And I can’t help but think of the days not all that long ago when I spent hours and hours – actually days – trying to create a magical world for my own three children during the holiday season. And I remember feeling mentally and physically drained when I was in the middle of shorted-out light strands, Christmas trees falling over, late night runs to Toys R Us, helping Santa with his handwritten notes and treats at 3 am…the list goes on and on.

And I remember wondering, at times, if it was all worth it.

Today, I’m on the other side of those memories. I live in an apartment and my holiday decorations took a total of 22 minutes to set-up. That includes putting all the boxes away.

And as much as I love my world today, nothing will ever come close to the embedded joy in those stress-filled days of yesteryear.

Ho, Ho, Ho.