Surviving Christmas: A Heart-to-Heart from One Mama to Another

Dec 21, 2025

4 min read

If you were here with me right now, I’d hand you a soft blanket, scoot over on the couch, and pour both of us a warm cup of coffee. Not the fancy kind — just the kind we reheat three times and sip in between all the chaos. Because that’s real life, right?

And honestly? I just want to talk to you for a minute. Not moms in general. Not “everyone out there.”

Just you.

Because if your December looks anything like mine, you’re probably running around with about 80,000 tabs open in your brain. You’re buying the gifts, hiding the gifts, wrapping the gifts, and trying to remember where you hid the gifts. You’re making sure the kids get to their programs, the house looks somewhat presentable, the treats for school don’t look like a last-minute scramble (even if they absolutely were), the meals are prepped, the family is happy, and the memories are magical.

And somewhere in the middle of all that…you forget to breathe. But here’s what I want to remind you — from one tired, hopeful, Jesus-loving mama to another.

Remember the Reason for the Season

I know you know this. I know you’ve said it. I know you’ve probably reminded your kids of it a dozen times already.

But have you paused long enough to let your own heart feel it?

The peace. The promise. The miracle. The quiet joy.

We tend to chase the perfect holiday instead of sitting in the presence of what we’re celebrating. Jesus didn’t come wrapped in perfection or chaos — He came in stillness. And sometimes the most sacred thing you can do in December is slow down long enough to remember that.

Stop, Breathe, and Notice the Blessings Hiding in the Busy

It’s so easy to look at our to-do list and see stress… but mama, every one of those tasks is tied to someone you love.

The late-night wrapping? That’s love.

The holiday baking mess you’ll be sweeping up for days? Also love.

The endless driving to concerts, recitals, friends’ houses, and Christmas events? Still love.

You’re doing these things because you have people who need you — and that is a blessing, even in the exhaustion.

But blessings are easy to miss when we’re sprinting through them. So slow down just for a moment and notice: This is a season you’ll miss one day.

You Deserve to Be in the Memories Too

I need you to hear this gently but clearly:

Christmas shouldn’t happen around you — it should happen with you.

You are not the holiday housekeeper, memory-maker, gift-coordinator, and photo-taker who lives behind the scenes while everyone else experiences the magic. You’re a mom. The most important person in the Christmas story your kids will remember.

A few simple ways to step into the moment:

Hand someone your phone and ask them to take pictures with you — not just of everyone else.
Create low-effort together moments that don’t require a full production:
- Christmas movie + popcorn night
- Hot cocoa and a drive through neighborhoods to look at lights
- Baking cookies together (embrace the sprinkles everywhere — it’s part of the fun!)
Let go of “perfect.” Kids don’t remember matching bows and spotless counters. They remember connection.
Drop one thing this year. Give yourself permission to scratch something off your list entirely.

Your presence is the gift.

A Few Ways to Bring Your Family Closer (Without Adding Stress)

Here are some sweet, simple, low-cost ideas that bring connection without making you do more work:

Have a “no phones” cocoa night
Let the kids decorate one small tree however they want
Read a short Christmas devotional together
Make cards for neighbors, grandparents, or a local nursing home
Do a kindness challenge — everyone chooses one small act to bless a stranger or friend

These tiny moments? They’re the ones kids talk about years later.

Teaching Kids to Pay It Forward

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is giving back — even in little ways. And it’s powerful to show our kids what kindness looks like in action.

A few ideas:

Have your kids choose a few toys they’ve outgrown and donate them to a local family or post them for free online.
Deliver a plate of cookies to a mama who might be overwhelmed this season.
Write thank-you cards to teachers, postal workers, or first responders.
Make handmade cards and drop them off at a nursing home or children’s hospital.

And this year, I’m also doing something special that’s close to my heart: I’m offering a “Sponsor a Necklace for a Local Mom” give-back. It’s a beautiful, meaningful, personalized piece — only $18 — and it will go to a mom who could use a little reminder that she is seen and loved. I’ll share the graphic below if you’d like to take part.