“Don’t you know that Christmas isn’t fun for moms?!”

Those words came out of my mouth the other day, I don’t necessarily believe that, but it’s what I said as I was telling my husband that I am tired and overwhelmed. I listed off the things I have to do, and this year it feels like my Christmas list is not extra long, but it’s extra heavy.

I love Christmas, but to be totally honest, I’m not in a very Christmas-y mood yet. So many of our annual traditions have been canceled, and it’s taking it’s toll on me. Christmas is fast approaching, so I need to switch my attitude quickly! It seems that this year especially, people are either filled with early Christmas cheer or struggling to find joy in the season.

To help out a bit (both you and me, friend!), here are some ways to keep Christmas both simple and magical this year.

Simplify Gifts

Our kids get three gifts from us. If three was enough for Jesus, it’s enough for my kids too. Usually we do one larger gift and two smaller gifts. My kids are quite young and don’t understand monetary value well, so honestly, their gifts are not equal in value this year. At first I felt guilty about that, but I realized that they are all getting what they asked for and they really don’t understand money in that way yet. I have plenty of years ahead of me to worry about making gifts equal, so right now, we are keeping it simple and focusing on their asks.

I know a lot of people who follow: something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read. That is another great way to simplify.

Find Little Ways to Celebrate

Yesterday while my daughter was at preschool, my husband and I got to spend special one on one time with our boys. My oldest doesn’t believe in Santa anymore, so the two of us went Santa shopping together while my middle stayed home with my husband and made cookies. And you know what? They weren’t Christmas cookies! You don’t need to roll and cut and decorate perfect sugar cookies if that overwhelms you…your kids will probably be happy with chocolate chip! If you are a Pinterest perfect cookie person, that’s awesome! If not, simplify!

Tonight we are going to a drive-thru light show.

This weekend we will cut out paper snowflakes and hang them on our ceiling. This has become one of our kids’ favorite things to do at Christmas! It makes the room feel really special and magical.

Get Kids Involved

I can be really bad at this one because I like to be efficient, but I’ve learned that if I take it upon myself to bring the joy to Christmas, everyone will expect that from me. While it is my job as mom to help my family celebrate Christmas and plan festivities, I don’t have to do it all. This year I’m going to have my kids help with a few things that I usually do on my own:

1. Wrap presents- No they won’t be as pretty, but that’s okay! It will be special for my kids to know their siblings helped with their gift.

2. Stuff stockings- Santa brings gifts in stockings at our house and usually I fill them on my own, but since my oldest knows about Santa now, he is going to help and he is so excited about it.

3. Gift selection- My kids wrote their own letters to Santa and they made their own Amazon wishlists. I had to help them a little, but they really liked scrolling through on their own and picking their toys and gifts!

4. Clean up!-I’m writing this to myself, but ask for help cleaning up and putting decorations away! I usually do this on my own, but those ornaments take a long time to take off the tree! I’m going to try to make it just as fun to take them off as it was to put them on.

Celebrate Advent

We are huge fans of Advent. I truly find that focusing on Advent and waiting on Jesus helps to keep us grounded during a season that can so easily become commercial and consumeristic. We have our own Advent resources, but we also have a list of our favorite resources. If you haven’t started talking about Advent yet, don’t worry! It’s never too late! Start today! Or tomorrow! Or this weekend! Just start.

Remember the Reason we Celebrate

This seems obvious and we have all heard it before: “don’t forget the reason for the season.” Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus. But it’s more than that, Jesus promises us so many amazing things and his birth is the beginning of those promises! Here are a few of the amazing things that Jesus promises us:

Life to the Full

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

Salvation

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10

Peace

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-6

Hope and a Future

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Compassion

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10

Grace

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9