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Feeling Overwhelmed by the Holiday Rush? Not Today!
It was a sweltering summer day when I decided to pick up a pair of swim goggles. With temperatures soaring to 99 degrees, you’d think it would be a simple task. Swim season is still in full swing, and kids are frolicking in their bathing suits until bedtime.
But instead of goggles, I stumbled upon a glaring reminder of the impending holiday season — a red and green gift bag filled with anxiety slapped right across my sunscreen-covered face.
As I wandered through aisles typically lined with summer gear like inflatable pool toys and sand buckets, I was instead met with displays overflowing with school supplies — composition books, colorful markers, spiral notebooks, and shiny lunch boxes. Just one aisle over, a clerk was stacking pumpkin-shaped trick-or-treat buckets next to garlands of autumn leaves. And behind her, I swear I spotted another employee setting up an artificial Christmas tree next to a hand-carved Nativity scene.
What on earth is going on?
We’re still months away from the arrival of Santa Claus, yet here I am, feeling the weight of Christmas stress creeping in. After a quick glance at Pinterest, which should be showcasing summer cocktails, I’m bombarded with Elf on the Shelf ideas — in July!
Enough is enough!
It feels like the moment our kids return to school, the Christmas shopping season kicks off. Halloween has become just a passing thought, and Thanksgiving is nearly forgotten. By the time October rolls around, if you haven’t finished your holiday shopping, you might as well be shamed.
Last year, I received my first Christmas card the day after Thanksgiving — how’s that for pressure? That family must have coordinated matching sweaters, scheduled a photo shoot, and mailed out cards before I even had a chance to pack away my beach gear.
If you’re anything like me, the bulk of the holiday preparations often falls on your shoulders. All the shopping, cooking, planning, hosting — it inevitably lands with the mom. I don’t mind the responsibility, but it’s unnerving when it starts so early. The stress of crafting the perfect holiday for my family used to hit me a week before Christmas; now, I’m mentally planning gingerbread house parties while grilling hot dogs in the summer heat. Not this year!
This time, I’m taking a stand. I’m going to savor each season, month by month, holiday by holiday. I’ll indulge in summer popsicles with my kids until the very last moment and refuse to think about pumpkins or Christmas until I’m ready. I’ll steer clear of holiday decorations until the weather is cooler, and I won’t even entertain the thought of a Christmas to-do list until I’ve put away all my Thanksgiving decor.
So, who’s with me on this? Let’s not stress out months in advance!
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Summary:
This article reflects on the overwhelming early onset of holiday preparations, urging readers to embrace each season without the stress of premature planning. It encourages enjoying summer moments while resisting the pull of holiday obligations until the time is right.