I just saw a quote that summed up how I’ve been feeling. “What a year this week has been.” The last days of getting everything ready for Christmas can feel like a lot.

But, let’s be honest, I bring some of it on myself. I just don’t have the capacity to do things minimally. For me, as a mom, I always want to go beyond to do more than I probably need to do. And that’s where the feeling of overwhelm can come in.

For instance, the kids have 15 teachers and staff at their school. I could have just accepted contributing to the parent money pool to buy them gift cards. Of course, I contributed. But leaving it at that just feels so impersonal. And impersonal is not my style.

That always means organizing and wrapping a lot of extra individual gifts. But I also know that this feeling of overwhelm is temporary – and these moments are important. So it’s worth it.

I’d rather my kids’ teachers, and our neighbors and friends, feel personally appreciated. It’s also about the experience for my kids of being part of showing that appreciation. 

These are all significant years in a child’s life, and as a parent, we have a lot of control over how they remember this period of their life. That keeps me showing up, putting in that 1000%, even when it occasionally feels overwhelming.

Madden is aware of when I’m feeling overwhelmed. He has always been really in tune with how I’m feeling. Lately, however, even more so. With me, you always know how I’m feeling based on what you see. I don’t fake anything ever. The good and bad.

The other day, John was supposed to run Madden to practice and couldn’t. I already had a packed day, but, of course, I took Madden to where he needed to be. I wasn’t annoyed that I had to drive him to practice because I’m always happy to do that. I was, however, feeling overwhelmed that day, so the whole way to practice, I was unusually quiet. Not intentionally. I was just sort of sitting with my day, processing how I was going to do it all. He could see all that and thanked me for taking him to practice. And he kept thanking me throughout the day, even again at night before bed.

Jersey, on the other hand, is at the age where she still thinks what I do is just what moms do around the holidays. She doesn’t realize yet the extent I go as she doesn’t have much of a basis to compare. I get the feeling she considers it normal. 

When they’re older, I know they’ll both look back on these holidays together and see the value though.

The consistency of maintaining certain holiday traditions will also solidify these memories for them too. That’s why, every year- no matter how hectic and busy the days get – there are certain things that we always do. Like the gingerbread house competition. . Every year the activity evolves a bit, but we always carve out the time for it – with my bestest friend ever, Allison, and her family.

Allison and I met in elementary school, and our seventh grade lockers were next to each other. I remember like it was yesterday, her 13th birthday party at a bowling center (even though she’s not a bowler). Now, our kids are 13 and creating these memories together. That’s another full-circle moment that feels a bit surreal. I’ve made a lot of great friends in my life from all over the world, but there’s something really special about growing up with someone and becoming the best, life-long friends.

The first couple of years we made gingerbread houses together, we just did them ourselves. Our kids were too little, and we started back in 2012 – so even before Jersey was born. We were just always getting together for the holidays, and gingerbread houses became part of that. Before we knew it, it had become an unofficial annual tradition.

Every year, as the kids have been getting older, the gingerbread houses have gotten even more competitive. Adding to the fun has been posting them on Instagram for votes. The first couple of years, they didn’t quite get how social media worked. Now, they totally understand Instagram, as well as the fact that I have a lot of followers who are going to vote. So that has added a new layer of fun as they are trying to “win” and showcase their skills. This year, there were over 100 votes, and it was really close. At one point, it was a 50/50. In the end Madden and Victoria emerged as the “2023 annual gingerbread champions” edging out Jersey and Isabella by a mere 3%!

I have also started a tradition of making cookies with Jersey every holiday. That’s something I want her to look back on and remember as “our thing.” And hopefully, one day, it will be something she’ll continue if she has her own family.

Tomorrow, my neighbor is having a cookie party. You can opt to be a taste-tester, come with cookies to enter into the contest, or both. The easy way out of course, would be to go and be a cookie judge. But you know, I don’t take the easy way out very often. I especially want to spend that quality time making cookies with Jersey. So tonight, after a long week of holiday errands and many doctor appointments for my dad – we will make cookies.

Those kinds of memories mean so much, and it’s really just about spending that time with my kids. And setting the foundation for memories and traditions – in hopes that they will keep the traditions alive with their future families.