A Quiet Christmas

I know not everyone celebrates Christmas, but I wanted to share something that’s been on my mind lately: the pure need for a quiet holiday season. Can I get an amen?

This year, because we’re in our new home, which I just love so much, and due to some tough health news in the family, we’re hosting Christmas for the whole crew. That’s four families, including my parents and seven kiddos. Yep, it’s a lot. We haven’t all been together for a Christmas in about eight or so years, and since then, we’ve added a few extra littles to the mix. But honestly, I’m just so grateful we’re all here and going to be together.

Now, we’re like a lot of families – different personalities and different approaches to the holidays. We’ve got the hyperactive ones, the loud ones, the ones who can’t handle too much noise, and, of course, all the varying parenting styles. Sounds like a recipe for chaos, right? Ha!

To avoid a total festive meltdown, I laid out some expectations in the family chat. Because while I love to host (it’s practically in my DNA – I was the kiddo walking around offering nibbles for my parent’s guests and later did a decade-long stint as a flight attendant), this year, I’m making it clear: I’m not going to be chained to the kitchen or running around like a headless turkey.

Turns out, my family is right there with me. We’re all feeling a bit crispy at this point in the year, and we’ve agreed that Christmas is about rest, recovery, making memories, and reconnecting. And you know what? I’m seeing the same vibe everywhere – on the internet, in conversations with friends – people are travelling less, staying put, and being really intentional about a quiet Christmas. Not to mention the cost of trying to be and do it all. If that’s not validation of the year/s we’ve had, I don’t know what is!

Sure, there’ll probably be a few disagreements (family bingo card: check), but I’ve set the tone early. We’ve got breakout zones for the different types of humans, and if all else fails, there’s plenty of nature around to escape into.

This year, I’m just thankful we’re all here together. Because who knows what tomorrow brings? So whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I hope this holiday season brings you connection, love, and a few good laughs. And if it’s a tough time for you, I hope you get what you need.

Cheers to finding moments of peace and joy – or at least a quiet corner to hide in!