You know all those Magical Holiday Memories???

They’re CUMULATIVE.

I didn’t realize this truth for a really long time.

In young motherhood I was still really going for it.

You know, the perfect tree and coordinated decorations and a sentimental gift for every person on my list and cookies for the neighbors and trips to see Santa and matching Christmas pajamas and cards sent to every single person I ever knew.

I wanted to do it ALL!!!

I wanted to give my kids Magical Holiday Memories!!

But then I got tired.

Because somewhere in the middle of striving for Christmas magic…LIFE happened.

And life was hard!!

Marriage was hard and work was hard and motherhood was hard.

And I really couldn’t do it ALL.

I figured I just wasn’t good at this ‘Holiday Mom’ thing.

Add it to the list of things I’ve jacked up in motherhood.

Put another tally under the Mom Fail column.

I couldn’t do it ALL.

So, I decided to lay it ALL down.

And instead I chose to do one or two things for Christmas every year.

Then I did my best to be present and enjoy those one or two things.

Like one year my boys wore matching Christmas pajamas.

And one year we baked cookies for the neighbors and walked them door-to-door in our coats and boots.

One year we waited in a long line to see Santa (we have such a cute picture of my middle child throwing a fit on Santa’s lap!!).

And one year we happened upon a random Santa in Wal-Mart.

One year we made adorable ornaments for the tree.

And one year I misspelled our own last name on the Christmas card I sent to every single person I knew.

One year my oldest boys were in the nativity scene at Mass.

And one year I forgot to check what everyone had to wear and when one kid’s shirt didn’t fit on Christmas Eve, I just rolled up the sleeves of his button-down and pretended we were a trendy family.

One year we rode the Polar Express complete with hot cocoa and ringing bells.

And one year we adopted a family. When we delivered the presents to their home with a gift card for Christmas dinner, the woman who opened the door was a patient of mine. She looked at me sheepishly until I exclaimed, “Oh, Katie!! I’m so glad it’s YOU!!” and gave her a big hug. My kids thought that was so cool!!

But notice what I’m saying here??

ONE year.

These magical memories did not ALL happen in the same year.

BECAUSE WE JUST CAN’T DO IT ALL!!!!

In fact, the only tradition we’ve managed to carry on every year is cinnamon rolls from a tube on Christmas morning (another shining example of my culinary genius!!).

Now I’m fourteen years into this motherhood thing.

And when I look back over fourteen Christmases as a mom, I can only remember little boys in matching Christmas pajamas and little faces smiling on Santa’s lap and watching my kids ring the bells on the Polar Express and Christmas cookies and my boys dressed as wise men in the nativity and hugging that precious patient of mine soooo tight as we put gifts under her tree and eating warm, gooey cinnamon rolls around the table with my family on Christmas morning.

Turns out…I AM a good Holiday Mom!!

Because Christmas is CUMULATIVE!!!!

It all adds up!!!

MOMS, WE DON’T HAVE TO DO IT ALL EVERY YEAR!!!!

Pick one or two things.

Then just be present.

Soak it in.

ENJOY those few little things.

And trust when you look back one day, you’ll realize you really did do it ALL.

You gave your kids the most Magical Holiday Memories you possibly could…and the gift of an unstressed, present mom who enjoyed the moment.

Now, I call that a Mom WIN!