Dear Britt

Dear Britt of Early November 2023,

I am writing to you as Britt of mid-December 2022. I’ve never written a blog post and scheduled it to publish this far in advance (gosh, I hope you’re not dead, or this is going to be really weird), but I felt the need to write you a gentle and compassionate letter that might help you through the rest of your year.

Britt, here’s the thing. Every year during the holidays, you experience some of the same things, and every year, you go, “Oh, yeah! I forgot this is what happens.” So I’m here to prep you. 

Your kids are going to get difficult. They will fight more than normal (if you can believe it’s possible), and they will likely be moody, jealous, and whiney for eight weeks straight. The jealousy kicks in long before any gifts. You probably noticed it kicking in around Halloween and then climbing through Zoe’s birthday. 

This time of year, they all need special attention. Is it the lack of time outside? The busy-ness of the season? The overstimulation? Slacker parenting? An abundance of sugar? The increased darkness? Perhaps a little of all of the above? I dunno for sure, but what I do know is that the kids will seem unmanageable, entitled, and highly emotional. Remember that this happens every year, and it usually gets better after Christmas. In the meantime, try to love them through it.

In truth, you have high emotions during the holidays, too. You struggle with the excess - too many gifts, too many sweets, too many expectations, too many events. 

I have no solid advice for you, but here are a few things you can try:

Block off a day of each week in November and December to stay home, and if anyone asks you if you’re free that day, YOU ARE NOT FREE. You have a plan - a plan to stay home. 

Eliminate some events. Look at the traditions you participate in and decide which ones are meaningful enough to keep doing every year, which ones you want to do some years, and which ones you can get rid of entirely. 

Dressing in DI flannel? Not something you have to do every year. 

Let your kids decorate the basement tree. I know, I know. It’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do, but it makes them happy, and that’s less work for you (they will fight about it, so give them a pep talk and outline some rules first. Maybe you can give them each an assignment and send them downstairs one at a time to do their part). 

Use gift bags. I know you love your double-sided Sam’s Club wrapping paper, but gift bags are like wham bam, thank you ma’am! No scraps, no aching back, and far less time consuming. And when the kids steal your tape? No worries! We are prepared for this, Britt, because I stocked up on gift bags on clearance last year. 

Don’t put Christmas lights up on the house. You can’t afford the power bill.

Stay off your phone on Black Friday (and all the days before and after Black Friday that are now also Black Friday). I dare you. You always overspend. You don’t need Cafe Rio gift cards. I know, I know. Calm down! This is YOU telling you that you don’t need Cafe Rio gift cards. Listen to yourself!

Somehow you need to get your shopping and gift giving in check. Every year you start off strong. You make a list of who to buy for, and you keep a record of what you’ve purchased and how much you’ve spent. Then somewhere along the line, you go rogue. Can this be the year you stay in control? Can you keep things simple? Can you?!?! 

I believe you can. This is your year! Go get ‘em, girl. And by “em,” I reiterate that I am not referring to Cafe Rio gift cards.

Glad tidings, 

Britt coping with Christmas 2022

Help me