For many of us working mommas, the balance between work and home is a constant struggle. Throw in a holiday season and the stress level seems to be on a steady incline. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be! Learning to have a good balance of both worlds allows for a feeling of a content and successful life: at school and home.
Stay Consistent
Plan Ahead
Start planning early. Plan as much as you can ahead of time – at both school and home! Get your holiday cards addressed and ready to be mailed as early as possible. Make a list of things you absolutely want or need to do during the holiday season. (But make sure to stay realistic!)
Make a list of who you need to buy Christmas gifts for and then plan a budget accordingly. Try to stick to that budget as much as possible so you don’t feel guilty after the fact. And remember, it’s okay to say no. It’s okay if not all of the decorations are put up! It’s okay if you can’t attend every holiday event. It’s okay! The world will not end!
Be Prepared
Family Traditions
Which gifts can you shop for online, and which do you need to hit the mall for? After you’ve made your lists, you can plan a day to do your store shopping and another to do your online shopping {plus this helps keep you on budget!}. Hire a babysitter or call grandma for a few hours. Or arrange a swap with a friend. Watch their children for a few hours so she can shop, and in return she can watch your kids for a few hours while you shop.
You’ll enjoy the quiet time and you’ll get your shopping done even faster! You can even plan to make one stop a week on the way home. Just don’t wait until the last minute to get your holiday shopping done.
Gift Wrapping
So rather than overdoing it, spend time making memories with the ones you love. The kids won’t remember how decorated the house was or how many gifts were under the tree – what they will remember is the love and attention their sweet mom gave them! They will remember the way you made them feel.
Great advise! Especially keeping consistency in routines. I tend to adjust to new routines easily, but always try to have my kids within their routines as much as possible.
Janice