Lighten The Mom Load

Whittling the Gift List for a Meaningful Christmas

5 Present Christmas Snowmen

Let me kick things off with some brutal honesty... Christmas and I, as a mom, have had a rollercoaster relationship. It's all jingle bells and fa-la-la-la-la, but holy tinsel, it's a ton of work for a mom! Whether you're clocking in at a job or not, it's like trying to juggle snowballs in a blizzard. The pressure to whip up a holiday that's more magical than a unicorn in a Santa hat is overwhelming, especially when it's as pricey as a sleigh ride to the moon. You've got to stuff the Christmas tree with gifts galore, making sure each kid and family member gets their fair share, bake a mountain of cookies and candies, deck the halls to look like a magazine cover—the list is longer than Santa's naughty list!

In fact, there's even a movie on this exact subject: Bad Moms Christmas. It's hilarious if you haven't seen it.

How can we enjoy a Christmas that reduces stress, while still creating magic and memories for our children, and also maintain our sanity without needing a month to recover after the holidays?

Swiping the Christmas tree from your local Foot Locker or scavenging your kids' room for forgotten treasures to regift makes for a hilarious movie plot, but trust me, it's not exactly a winning strategy in real life!

I present the plan I put into action the Christmas prior to my divorce, knowing that my life was on the verge of change and I needed to take a new approach.

The 5 Present Christmas

It's straightforward. They get...

1- something they want, 2- something they need, 3- something to wear, 4-something to read, and 5- something for the tree.

Rest assured, I will explain each one for you, providing advice and reasons behind them, along with tips to make it even more unique than the countless gifts and stress of past Christmases.

First, I request my children to make their wish list. They know they can add anything they want, but the items must fit into the first four categories, and they will receive only 5 gifts.

I advise my children that experiences can also be gifts and often make the best ones. Consider options like memberships to your local trampoline park, concerts, ice skating outings, or movie tickets for a film they're looking forward to.

I also have gifts in those categories that I've already planned for them, which are handmade, and they don't know which category these will appear in. Some examples include crochet blankets I've worked on throughout the year and a printed book about them, among others. This tradition, passed down from my parents, is something I try to incorporate because these gifts always hold the most meaning.

Afterward, I review the list they asked for and select items I’d like to give them that fit the remaining categories. Then, I open my computer and use Capital One Shopping. This app checks prices across the internet, and I search for those items. It provides me with the best price and where to purchase them, helping me save money and find any available discount codes. I have included the URL below for you to access it.

https://capitaloneshopping.com/instant

Something They Want

Often, this is the experience gift I mentioned earlier, but it doesn't have to be, and it's what I call their big gift. This doesn't mean I spend more on it; rather, it's the last gift opened and the highlight of the event. It also doesn't mean it's the largest in size, but I make an effort to make it enjoyable. Sometimes, I'll place a note in a large box that sends them on a scavenger hunt to find the gift, or I'll wrap it in multiple boxes. These are just a few ways to make it fun and memorable.

Something They Need

It doesn't have to be socks or underwear. It could be something for their car for older kids who drive, a skincare set for your preteen children, or a child-sized apron for the younger ones to begin learning to cook with you.

Something to Wear

While it may seem straightforward, hold on a moment. How imaginative can your kids become? When helping them with their lists, challenge them by asking, aside from clothes, what do you wear? Hats, blankets, ball caps, bows, earrings, watches... It's exciting to watch their ideas begin to ignite.

Something To Read

This is one of my top choices. A book is the first thing that springs to mind, but it could also be a book club subscription, a magazine subscription, a how-to manual for something they've been eager to learn, a simple cookbook for your kids heading to college, a collector's edition of their favorite children's book or comic books, or a gag gift like joke-filled toilet paper. The possibilities are endless. Reading is crucial, and encouraging them to take a break from electronics is even more important.

This leads me to my absolute favorite, the one I never request from their list!

Something For the Tree

Mom selects this. It's another excellent homemade gift opportunity but does not have to be. I aim to choose something that symbolizes an event in their lives that year: a sport, an achievement, a new pet, a favorite character, team, or activity. If possible, include the year on it. While it will hang on the tree, the larger purpose is that when they eventually start their own family and have their own tree at home, you can collect all these items and give them to them. They'll begin with a tree filled with memories of their childhood and past Christmases. Each year, they'll open it and share stories with their family about each item and its significance.

Finally, I enjoy finding a creative way to wrap gifts. The first year, I wrapped and stacked them to resemble snowmen. The picture is at the top. I used boxes of similar sizes to stack them, even if the gift inside was smaller. Then, I arranged them in reverse order. This made wrapping easy too. I simply bought white and black wrapping paper, used construction paper for the buttons, carrot nose, and face, and added small battery light strands for the scarfs. A garland or a real scarf would work as well. The hat included something to read and something for the tree and I added a ribbon to it. My kids found this amusing and still talk about it. You can be very creative with this. I've also used one color of wrapping paper for each child and created a gift tower. You can even make a tree. The simplicity and tradition of it make it fun and easy.

I have linked my supplies for your convince.

Link to white wrapping Paper- https://amzn.to/4eHHvtp

Link to black wrapping paper- https://amzn.to/4fZkyTL

Link to construction paper- https://amzn.to/3Z5arWw

Link to snowflake light string for scarf- https://amzn.to/3CPS0h2

Link to Jingle Bell light string for scarf- https://amzn.to/3ATGDEl

Link to Garland for scarf- https://amzn.to/3Z14PMX

Link to red and white snowman scaf- https://amzn.to/3Z1fJlZ

Link to Satin ribbon for hat- https://amzn.to/4eHyaSy

My children absolutely love this tradition and have never once complained about receiving fewer gifts! They now delight in giving others experiences and handmade gifts as well. I truly believe this new approach to Christmas has enriched their perspective on gift giving. It takes an enormous amount of pressure off me—no more endless shopping, high costs, or wrapping marathons. Now, I can relax, sip my coffee, and enjoy watching even more magic and memories unfold than ever before!

I know you've heard the phrase "less is more." It's true, even when it comes to Christmas. Moms, you deserve to enjoy the holiday just as much as everyone else. Here's a simple hack that can make all the difference: focus on what truly matters. By prioritizing meaningful moments over material things, you can create a joyful and stress-free holiday season. Remember, your happiness and peace are the greatest gifts you can give to yourself and your family. Embrace simplicity, and let the magic of the season shine through. You've got this!

Merry Merry From Us!