Hassle-Free
L
et’s face it, 2020 has thrown moms the ultimate curveball, over and over—and over—again November marks the beginning of the holiday season, which, for many moms, abounds with anxiety. This year poses additional challenges. I am planning to rely on many great strategies I learned early in motherhood as our family navigates this holiday season and strives to make happy memories together. From the time I learned I would become a mother, I spent a lot of time thinking about the holidays and what I wanted them to mean for our family. Pinterest, shop windows and magazine covers showcase perfectly decorated homes with delicious foods. These images are really fun to look at for ideas and inspiration, and as a person who loves holidays and traditions, I enjoy implementing ideas. Still, I have to be wise and selective, or those creative ideas quickly can become very long to-do lists that shift my priorities and distract my focus. When my girls were young, I attended MOPS. One of our speakers shared some of the best advice I ever received as a mother. She said, “Make sure your priorities are accurately represented in how you spend your time. There are many things vying for your attention in this world. Choose the things that line up with your priorities. If spending time with your children means a neglected garden, that’s okay, because your priority is making memories with your children.” I’ll never forget one of the first opportunities I had to put her advice into practice. I love to bake and I love to bake with my children. All my girls have grown up helping me in the kitchen from the time they could sit up. I have had toddlers help tear lettuce for salad, preschoolers slice bananas and my older girls are adept at the stove. However, one Christmas season I had to loosen the standards. My third daughter was
56
kcparent.com november 2020
