Feeling the Holiday Stress Already? No Way!

home insemination Kit

So, I headed out yesterday to grab a pair of swim goggles. It’s still summer, right? Shouldn’t be a problem! With temperatures soaring to 99 degrees and long days inviting kids to splash around until bedtime, swim season is in full swing.

But guess what? I didn’t find any goggles. Instead, I stumbled upon a red and green gift bag filled with holiday anxiety—yes, the Christmas kind—slapping me right in my sunscreen-covered face.

As I wandered through the aisles of inflatable pool toys, lightning bug catchers, and sand shovels, I was met with shelves stacked high with composition notebooks, colorful markers, spiral notebooks, and shiny lunch boxes.

And just a little further, I spotted an employee piling up pumpkin-shaped trick-or-treat buckets on top of festive autumn garlands. And behind her? I swear I saw someone arranging an artificial Christmas tree next to a hand-carved Nativity set.

What is going on?

We’re still over four months away from the big guy in the red suit, yet here I am, already feeling the weight of Christmas stress. Don’t even think about visiting your local craft store. One week it’s a patriotic overload, and the next it’s like I’ve stepped into the North Pole. And Pinterest? I went looking for summer cocktails, only to be bombarded with Elf on the Shelf ideas—in July!

This needs to stop—like, now.

It feels like the moment we send our kids back to school in the fall, the Christmas shopping season kicks off immediately. Halloween is just a fleeting thought now, and Thanksgiving? Practically non-existent. Christmas? It’s already here by September.

By October 1, if you’re not done shopping, you’re somehow falling behind. By the time November hits, my calendar is jam-packed with holiday events, school plays, cookie swaps, and enough festive obligations to make Mrs. Claus reach for a Xanax-spiked eggnog. I haven’t even put away my beach toys, and my neighbor is already hanging lights. To add to the madness, last year I received my first Christmas card in the mail the day after Thanksgiving!

I did the math. That family must have coordinated matching red and green sweaters, booked a photographer, taken the perfect picture, addressed dozens of envelopes—all while I was still gathering school supplies in mid-November!

If you’re anything like me, most of the Christmas to-do list lands squarely on your shoulders. Shopping, cooking, planning, hosting—it’s all on mom. It’s not that I mind taking it on; it just feels like it’s happening way too soon.

I used to feel the pressure to create the perfect Christmas for my family around December 20. Now? While grilling hot dogs in the summer heat, I’m already mentally preparing for a gingerbread house decorating party 18 weeks away. No thanks to that sugar-sprinkled stress cookie!

This year, I’m hitting pause—actually, make that a big pause. I’ll tackle one season at a time, one month at a time, one holiday at a time. I’ll savor my red, white, and blue popsicles with the kids until summer is officially over, and I refuse to think about pumpkins, stockings, or anything Christmas-related until I’m good and ready.

I’ll be steering clear of the holiday aisles until it’s actually cool enough to feel like winter, and I won’t even consider a Christmas to-do list until all of my Thanksgiving decor is put away. Stressing out months in advance? Not this year, folks.

Moms, who’s with me?

For more on navigating the ins and outs of parenthood, check out our post on home insemination kits for some helpful tips! Plus, if you’re interested in learning more about home insemination, CryoBaby is a fantastic resource. And for those curious about the success rates of IUI, WebMD provides excellent information.

In summary, let’s take a breath and slow down this holiday frenzy. Enjoy the seasons as they come, and don’t let the pressure of early holiday preparations overshadow the joy of summer and fall.