Holiday Mom Victory

Surviving 24 Days of Holiday Madness: A Mom’s Slow-Motion Victory Lap

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you: the last 24 days of my life, a dazzling montage of pure, unfiltered mom hustle. Imagine me at the end of a marathon—hair frazzled, holiday sweater fraying, clutching a half-empty cup of cold coffee like it’s an Olympic torch. It’s not just any victory; it’s the kind of win where you do a slow, triumphant pout and whisper to yourself, "I did it."

Let’s recap this holiday gauntlet:

Decorating the House: It started with grand ambitions and Pinterest-level dreams. Six trees. Yes, SIX! There were lights in places I didn’t even know I owned. Somewhere in the chaos, a strand of tinsel got tangled in the dog, and I’m 95% sure a rogue ornament is still rolling around under the couch. But hey, the house looked like Christmas threw up all over it, and isn’t that the point?

Elf on the Shelf Shenanigans: Three elves. THREE. Every night for 24 nights, I transformed into a covert operative, orchestrating scenes that ranged from adorable to downright absurd. Sophia Sparklepants fished for Goldfish crackers, Jingles rappelled down the curtains, and Jacob staged a marshmallow snowball fight. And yes, I almost forgot about them twice and had to pull off a 3 a.m. emergency elf rescue. I’m basically the Jason Bourne of holiday cheer.

Charity Events, Birthday Parties, and Holiday Extravaganzas: There was the Angel Tree shopping spree, where I learned that finding the "perfect" gift for four kids you’ve never met is like trying to decode a message from Santa himself. Add in a whirlwind of birthday parties, school events, and holiday gatherings, and suddenly I’m a professional calendar juggler. By the way, who invented "ugly sweater" contests? I have enough on my plate without DIYing a sweater that looks like it lost a fight with a glue gun.

Last-Minute Gift Runs: Let’s talk about the art of the panic buy. “Oh no, did we forget the gift for the Secret Santa exchange tomorrow?” Cue me running through the aisles of Target like a contestant on Supermarket Sweep. I’ve bought so many “emergency” gifts this month that my credit card probably thinks I’m building a toy store.

Visiting Santa at Three Locations: Because apparently, one Santa visit isn’t enough. We had to hit the trifecta: the mall, the Christmas festival, and the professional photo op with Jeff Roffman Santa. By visit three, even Santa looked tired. My kids? Still going strong with their Christmas wish lists, which grew exponentially every time they saw the big guy.

Extra Holiday Events: Caroling? Sure. Gingerbread decorating? Why not. Christmas light scavenger hunt? Let’s add it to the list. I’ve attended so many events that I should earn a medal for "Most Festive Mom of the Year." But instead, I’ll settle for an extra-large coffee and the satisfaction of knowing I didn’t forget anyone in the Secret Santa swap…probably.

Shopping for Gifts: I’ve managed to procure almost every gift on the list. Sure, there are still three or four lingering items, but those are Future Me’s problem. Present Me is basking in the glory of the 48 perfectly wrapped (and strategically hidden) packages currently under the tree. Future Me, however, will probably be at Walmart at midnight on Christmas Eve. Let’s not talk about her.

The Essence of the Win:

And now, here I am, standing at the finish line of this holiday marathon. The elves have officially retired to the North Pole. The house looks like Christmas exploded and then tried to tidy up. My kids are hyped on candy canes and holiday cheer, and I’m riding a sugar crash fueled by peppermint bark and sheer willpower.

It’s not a graceful win, but it’s mine. I’m taking a slow, dramatic victory lap—a cup of hot cocoa in hand, basking in the glow of my slightly crooked tree. Because moms, let’s be real: we do SO much to make this season magical. We’re the behind-the-scenes MVPs of Christmas, and we deserve to celebrate every glitter-covered, sleep-deprived triumph.

So here’s to us. To the moms who made it through 24 days of chaos, cheer, and Christmas miracles. We may be running on fumes, but we’re still standing. And that, my friends, is the true essence of a holiday win.

~ Mary

#MomLifeWithMary