The holiday season is a stressful time for moms all over the world. We are faced with shopping for the perfect gifts, cooking the perfect meal, and spending time with those who can be difficult. It can be a challenge to keep our cool when it feels like there are a million things to do and our kids are getting in the way.

As moms, we all know the feeling of being pulled in a million directions during the holidays. In this blog post, we will explore some of the top 5 most annoying things moms shared with us about the holiday season stress. So grab a cup of hot cocoa and get ready to commiserate!

The Endless Shopping
Shopping for gifts can be one of the most overwhelming parts of the holiday season for moms. With so many family members to buy for, it can feel like you're never done. Trying to keep track of who has been bought for and what everyone wants can seem like an impossible task.

Plus, no matter how hard you try, there's always someone who needs a last minute gift. Shopping during the holidays is not only stressful but often expensive too. If you're trying to stick to a budget, you may find yourself searching for hours to find the perfect gift without breaking the bank. It's no wonder why the endless shopping can cause so much stress during the holidays!

The Cooking
For moms, the holiday season can bring a lot of added stress when it comes to preparing meals. Whether you’re cooking a big dinner for the whole family or just trying to come up with something special for your little ones, it’s no wonder why we can often feel overwhelmed with all the extra effort that goes into cooking during the holidays.
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If you’re hosting a dinner, you’ll need to think carefully about what to make. Not only do you want to make sure everyone enjoys the food, but you also want to make sure it’s something that’s easy enough for you to prepare. This means shopping for ingredients, thinking up recipes, and testing out new dishes. It can be stressful and time-consuming, but it can also be a great way to get creative in the kitchen.

‍From planning the menu to cleaning up afterwards, it’s important to remember to take some time for yourself and enjoy the process. After all, that’s what the holidays are really about.

The Planning
When it comes to the holidays, planning is a must! From holiday parties to family dinners and decorations, there is so much to do. This can be overwhelming for many moms, especially when it comes to setting aside enough time for everything.

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The pressure of getting everything planned and prepared is sometimes too much for moms, especially when they're trying to manage their kids' schedules and activities at the same time. It can feel like a never-ending cycle of preparation and chaos.

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In order to make it through the season with some sanity, moms have to get organized. Making lists of all that needs to be done can be helpful. Whether it's keeping track of gifts to buy or making sure you're stocked up on groceries, planning ahead is essential.

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Creating a schedule for yourself can also be helpful. By allocating specific times for each task, you can ensure that you have time to relax and spend with your family. Having a plan will make it easier to stay on top of everything and make sure nothing is forgotten.

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Ultimately, planning is key during the holiday season! As stressful as it can be, taking the time to organize and prepare will help make your holiday season a little bit brighter.

Spending Time with Family Members You don't Really Like
The holiday season is an opportunity for families to come together and enjoy each other’s company. But for some moms, it also means having to interact with family members who are difficult to get along with.

This could be an uncle or aunt who is always pointing out our parenting mistakes, a cousin who always makes inappropriate comments or a grandparent who makes us feel like we can never measure up. These are the moments when our patience wears thin and we just want the holidays to be over.

It is important to remember that these family members usually come from a different generation and their opinions may not match ours. We can try to engage in polite conversation, even if it isn't comfortable, and try to change the subject if needed. And if all else fails, it is OK to excuse ourselves from the conversation and take a few minutes alone. It's always better to take some time to cool off than to do something you'll regret.

At the end of the day, we need to remember that the holiday season only comes around once a year and it should be a time of joy and celebration. The key is to keep our focus on what matters most, which is spending quality time with our family and cherishing the memories we make together.

Losing Our Patience with Our Kids
Between the endless shopping, cooking, planning, and trying to keep everyone happy, it’s understandable why we lose our patience so quickly with our kids.
At this time of year, it can feel like our children are constantly asking us questions, wanting attention or just being extra needy.

This can easily test even the most patient of parents. It’s also common to experience an uptick in challenging behavior from kids at this time of year. Between all of the activities, changes to their routine, and the excitement of the holidays, this is completely normal and expected.

So how can we try to maintain our patience during this chaotic period? We need to remember that our children are only little and are still learning about the world around them. Their brains and bodies haven’t fully developed yet and they’re often unable to process what is going on around them. They may not be aware of why things are different or why we’re so busy.

A great way to help prevent losing your patience is to give yourself some much-needed ‘me-time’. Don’t be afraid to take a few minutes out of your day to do something you enjoy. This can be anything from going for a walk, reading a book, watching a movie or simply just taking a few deep breaths. Giving yourself a break can help refresh your patience levels and make it easier to tackle the rest of the day.

Another way to combat losing your patience is to try to find joy in the chaos. Yes, it’s difficult and stressful, but try to remember that this time won’t last forever and you will get through it. Spending time with family and loved ones is also incredibly important, so try to savor these moments as much as you can.

Ultimately, parenting is a challenging job at the best of times and during the holidays it can be even harder. It’s okay if you slip up and lose your patience from time to time; just remember to take a few moments for yourself and focus on the positives. With a little bit of effort and understanding, hopefully, you can survive the season with your sanity intact!

All of this can take its toll on us and our patience, leading us to be more prone to snapping at our kids than usual. By being mindful of our own needs during this time of year and taking time to relax and spend quality time with our families, we can make sure that the holiday season doesn’t become a source of frustration and guilt.

If you need extra help staying calm, use MamaZen's 'Surviving the Holidays' series of sessions which includes:

Let go of Anxiety & Fears
Be Able to Say "NO"
Stop Emotional Eating
Stress Less About the Mess
Release Perfectionism
Reduce Anger & Increase Patience
De-Stress S.O.S

Happy Holidays!!

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