Being honest here, this holiday season feels like a marathon of Christmas gatherings. My kids are bouncing from one party to another, and while it’s fun, I worry it’s just too much. They’re overstimulated, cranky, and honestly, so am I. I want them to enjoy the magic of the holidays, but where’s the balance?
yes, the overstimulation is real! I had to step back last year and re-evaluate our holiday schedule because it felt like a never-ending party tour. What helped was blocking out “quiet days” where we stayed home with no events planned. That way, the kids had time to decompress, and I wasn’t feeling like I was running on empty. It was tough at first to say “no” to invites, but the peace it brought was worth it. Now we try to balance by going to a few key events and skipping the rest. I know the holidays are about making memories, but they’re also about making sure everyone’s feeling good too, right?
The overstimulation is no joke, especially when they’re still so young. One thing we tried was keeping the parties to a 1,2 hour max. That way, it’s still fun but doesn’t feel like an entire day of chaos. Also, when we got home, we made sure to do some quiet time, like reading or a calm activity, just to bring them back to a peaceful place. Definitely less is more during this time.
I totally get where you’re coming from, Meghan! My little ones are the same, and every time we go to another gathering, I can see them getting more wound up. It’s fun but exhausting. The holiday season is so full, and it feels like there’s no room to breathe. I feel like we need a “recovery day” after every party just to reset.
It sounds like you’re in a tough spot, but you’re definitely not alone. When my kids were little, I went all in on every holiday gathering, thinking they needed to be a part of everything. But over the years, I learned to say no when it wasn’t worth it. Overstimulation leads to tantrums, missed naps, and frankly, a grumpy mama. We found that picking 2 or 3 key events to focus on made all the difference. I also started making sure we had at least one full day a week where there was nothing planned, no parties, no events, just chill time at home. You don’t have to do it all to make great memories. Trust me, less can be more when it comes to creating lasting holiday magic!
The holidays are so hectic, and we’ve all been in that situation where we overdo it with the parties. When my kids were younger, I was in the same boat—constantly running from one thing to the next and seeing them get tired and cranky by the end of it. What worked for us was making sure we had balance. We made a “holiday schedule” where I allowed 2-3 events max each week and prioritized quality time with the kids at home. We also did a “wind-down” routine in the evenings with a quiet family activity to help them settle. It really made a difference, and I feel like it helped keep the magic of the holidays alive without the meltdown afterwards. You’ve got this!
Does anyone else feel like there’s no such thing as “too much” when it comes to the holidays? I’ve tried to slow down, but it’s like every invite feels like it’s something the kids would love. How do you know when to say no?
It sounds like you’re in a tough spot, but you’re definitely not alone. When my kids were little, I went all in on every holiday gathering, thinking they needed to be a part of everything. But over the years, I learned to say no when it wasn’t worth it. Overstimulation leads to tantrums, missed naps, and frankly, a grumpy mama. We found that picking 2 or 3 key events to focus on made all the difference. I also started making sure we had at least one full day a week where there was nothing planned, no parties, no events, just chill time at home. You don’t have to do it all to make great memories. Trust me, less can be more when it comes to creating lasting holiday magic!