Thank you Katie! As a single parent, estranged from family, I’m still adjusting to Christmas alone with my little one. Feeling like I’ve failed her by being a family of just us. Whereas, she has the time of her life! I’ll be rereading this in my moments of self doubt
I get it. We live a long way away from our extended family and my boy is an only child, so our Christmases are always small and I often feel sad/guilty my son doesn’t get to spend the day with siblings or cousins. But in reality, the way we do things is all he has ever known, he has a wonderful life, we have lots of beautiful little family traditions and he is as happy as can be! There truly is no reason for me to feel sad or guilty because he is absolutely thriving. I bet your daughter is too! Sending love and wishing you and your little one an absolutely magical Christmas together. ❤️
Many of my Christmas memories involve one of my siblings making me cry, and/or being dragged to extended-family gatherings that I didn’t want to go to. Just one thing after another when all I wanted was quiet time alone. Obviously everyone is different and some people didn’t grow up in dysfunctional families 🙃 but yes, the “Big Christmas” is often not all it’s cracked up to be!
I’m a single parent too although I have my parents - but only my parents. I am trying not to dread Christmas and to make it fun for my boys and a pleasure for me. Even so I know there will be really lovely and low points. Sending love to you ❤️
My favourite line: "Handmade gifts are priceless. If anyone in your life believes otherwise, then it might be time reassess their position on the naughty or nice list."
My treasured Christmas memories are from the low key times. We are away for Christmas this travelling to a country where Christmas is decidedly low key and I am looking forward to it. At home (UK) we usually get up and have a big breakfast before heading out for a long walk in the beautiful countryside where we live. We return home to a meal that we have put in the slow cooker in the morning. Wonderful family time together.
I love these gentle reminders Katie, it's so easy to get swept up in the madness. Sticking to rituals that are meaningful to our family and saying no to the superfluous makes for a merrier Christmas season. I adore this time of year 🎄
Me too Stephanie. It’s funny, when people ask me in that harried way “Are you all organised for Christmas?!” or talk about how much they have to do, they often don’t know how to react when I them our Christmas are small and simple so they aren’t at all stressful. Christmas has become so synonymous with stress and busyness!
So well said! I 100% agree with everything you have listed and think we all need to get back to basics and remember what is actually important at this time of year. Especially for our kids, to teach them it's not about things, but people and experiences.
Beautiful Katie, well-timed reminders thank you. My children’s birthdays are two weeks either side of Christmas as well so this time of year always sends me into a spin. Albeit one with lots of lovely moments.
Oh yes, that is a lot to organise all at once! Though it must be such magical time of year for your babies, having so much to celebrate. I hope you all have a beautiful Christmas/birthday season! ❤️
I love this Katie 💕 I have always enjoyed a simple Christmas - lunch or dinner at home with close family, one big or two small presents per person (mostly secondhand or re-gifted), etc. As a Brit in Australia I think Christmas is not overly Christmassy anyway 🤷🏼♀️
We keep it small and simple too. I can understand that an Aussie Christmas wouldn’t feel very Christmassy when you are used to a traditional wintery one. For us, a summer Christmas just feels normal. Hot cocoa by the fire doesn’t feel like Christmas to me, but a mango by the pool does! My son always says “it feels like Christmas!” the first day it gets hot enough to put the air-conditioning on. 😂
"Aesthetic decorations are overrated. My favourite Christmas trees are the ones covered in mismatched ornaments, gathered over the years" - same here. This describes my tree to a tee. I have no matching decorations, they are all "memories" from years gone by and I normally add one new one each year.
Thank you Katie! As a single parent, estranged from family, I’m still adjusting to Christmas alone with my little one. Feeling like I’ve failed her by being a family of just us. Whereas, she has the time of her life! I’ll be rereading this in my moments of self doubt
I get it. We live a long way away from our extended family and my boy is an only child, so our Christmases are always small and I often feel sad/guilty my son doesn’t get to spend the day with siblings or cousins. But in reality, the way we do things is all he has ever known, he has a wonderful life, we have lots of beautiful little family traditions and he is as happy as can be! There truly is no reason for me to feel sad or guilty because he is absolutely thriving. I bet your daughter is too! Sending love and wishing you and your little one an absolutely magical Christmas together. ❤️
Many of my Christmas memories involve one of my siblings making me cry, and/or being dragged to extended-family gatherings that I didn’t want to go to. Just one thing after another when all I wanted was quiet time alone. Obviously everyone is different and some people didn’t grow up in dysfunctional families 🙃 but yes, the “Big Christmas” is often not all it’s cracked up to be!
It’s great to hear another perspective 🫶
I’m a single parent too although I have my parents - but only my parents. I am trying not to dread Christmas and to make it fun for my boys and a pleasure for me. Even so I know there will be really lovely and low points. Sending love to you ❤️
A wonderful piece, thank you!
My favourite line: "Handmade gifts are priceless. If anyone in your life believes otherwise, then it might be time reassess their position on the naughty or nice list."
Cheeky, but very wise!
Hehe, thank you Mary! 🥰
My treasured Christmas memories are from the low key times. We are away for Christmas this travelling to a country where Christmas is decidedly low key and I am looking forward to it. At home (UK) we usually get up and have a big breakfast before heading out for a long walk in the beautiful countryside where we live. We return home to a meal that we have put in the slow cooker in the morning. Wonderful family time together.
That sounds absolutely beautiful 🥰
I love these gentle reminders Katie, it's so easy to get swept up in the madness. Sticking to rituals that are meaningful to our family and saying no to the superfluous makes for a merrier Christmas season. I adore this time of year 🎄
Me too Stephanie. It’s funny, when people ask me in that harried way “Are you all organised for Christmas?!” or talk about how much they have to do, they often don’t know how to react when I them our Christmas are small and simple so they aren’t at all stressful. Christmas has become so synonymous with stress and busyness!
So well said! I 100% agree with everything you have listed and think we all need to get back to basics and remember what is actually important at this time of year. Especially for our kids, to teach them it's not about things, but people and experiences.
Thanks Esta! I couldn’t agree more ❤️
Beautiful Katie, well-timed reminders thank you. My children’s birthdays are two weeks either side of Christmas as well so this time of year always sends me into a spin. Albeit one with lots of lovely moments.
Oh yes, that is a lot to organise all at once! Though it must be such magical time of year for your babies, having so much to celebrate. I hope you all have a beautiful Christmas/birthday season! ❤️
It is! Thank you, you too!
Lovely reminders, thanks Katie xx
Thank you, Julie! 🥰
I love this Katie 💕 I have always enjoyed a simple Christmas - lunch or dinner at home with close family, one big or two small presents per person (mostly secondhand or re-gifted), etc. As a Brit in Australia I think Christmas is not overly Christmassy anyway 🤷🏼♀️
We keep it small and simple too. I can understand that an Aussie Christmas wouldn’t feel very Christmassy when you are used to a traditional wintery one. For us, a summer Christmas just feels normal. Hot cocoa by the fire doesn’t feel like Christmas to me, but a mango by the pool does! My son always says “it feels like Christmas!” the first day it gets hot enough to put the air-conditioning on. 😂
Gotta love some mango :) that's an Aussie thing I do partake of!!
I love this Katie! Thanks for these lovely stress reducing reminders. 💕
Thanks so much, Katrina! 🥰
Thank you for sharing this Katie.
"Aesthetic decorations are overrated. My favourite Christmas trees are the ones covered in mismatched ornaments, gathered over the years" - same here. This describes my tree to a tee. I have no matching decorations, they are all "memories" from years gone by and I normally add one new one each year.
A lovely read- I especially loved the part about not taking part in elf on the shelf 🤣
Great post! I'm sorry to say I did in fact buy a totally unnecessary new outfit for the office Christmas party... 😅
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