Okay, Who Decided We All Had to Be Martha Stewart?
I think I had a bit of a seasonal spiral this week as I was writing the newsletter. If you don’t subscribe, first of all, why? What are you waiting for? Go ahead and just click here to subscribe (I know, I really just sold it, didn’t I?). But honestly, this week’s newsletter started like this:
The holidays are creeping up and suddenly the pressure for the “perfect” everything is everywhere. The perfect gift. The perfect menu. The perfect décor. The perfect home. The perfect cookie recipe. Somewhere along the way it started to feel like we were all expected to turn into Martha Stewart (like the ‘90s version)… and honestly, when did that even happen?
And let’s not even get started on the germs. We’ve already cycled through at least one mystery bug over here.
If you’re one of the lucky ones, layer on a birthday in the next six weeks and you might be feeling like you’re hanging on by a thread. Just me? Cool, cool.
But also… am I wrong? Most parents and caregivers I know are out here trying to create the most magical freaking season of the year on top of a million other things. Am I going to keep doing it? Absolutely. Am I going to complain while I’m doing it? Honestly, yeah. Because even though I’m creating memories for my kids and hoping they love our little traditions as much as I did growing up, I can also be honest and just say I. Am. Tired.
I feel incredibly grateful to work somewhere that has a winter break at the end of the year, but leading up to that, it’s a really busy season for us. Layer in Thanksgiving (which I LOVE), a winter birthday, the cold (which I do NOT love), and societal expectations… omg.
So what is this, just a vent post? Not entirely.
As I’m writing this (maybe to myself more than anyone else), I just want to say this: let yourself appreciate the twinkle (and not just the lights) that go along with this season. Take a moment to look at the wonder on your child’s face when the snow falls. And don’t forget that you are just a person living your life too. You’re not just a parent, caregiver, aunt, uncle, grandparent, or whatever, and it is not solely your job to create all of these memories for other people.
You deserve a little magic as well. Put the extra marshmallows in your hot chocolate, eat that extra buckeye, and indulge in Christmas music or Hallmark movies after everyone else has gone to sleep. Go wild.
And yes, I know. I’m telling you to do EVEN MORE this holiday season and you’re like “Kayla, back off, weren’t you supposed to make my life easier?” I am… and I’m not. But if you read my post about Raising Grateful Kids (linked it for you in case you really want to read it 😉), sometimes we need to take a moment to pause and see how good things are. Notice, name, share baby.
But also? It’s completely okay to vent about it. And just to be clear, if you’re feeling the pressure or the expectations, so is everyone else. Maybe we ignore other people’s baseboards (unless they're really proud they cleaned them, then you should definitely hype them up) and reserve judgment for reality TV.
Find your safe people. You don’t have to pretend that everyone is rainbows and butterflies 24/7. My DMs are filled with reels to and from my friends about feral toddlers and meltdowns and eating Halloween candy at both 8am and 8pm some days. We’re all doing our best and sometimes that means laughing through the chaos together.
And maybe you don’t have a community. Maybe that’s what brought you here. Reach out. You can DM me parenting reels too. The CLE Family Collective was built after conversations with people seeking just that. I’d love to tell you I have 17 events planned where we can all get together and build that community but… c’mon, did you read this post?! One day, hopefully. But today? Not in the cards.
That said, if I can help, if The Collective can help, please know that’s why it’s here. Email, DM, comment, and tell us what community could look like for you or what resources you need. I make no promises - this is something I do for fun after my kids go to sleep - but I’ll do my best. And people who know me can vouch for that.
I also shared two guides in the newsletter this week that might help you get through the season:
Our Winter in Northeast Ohio Guide just launched with a one-stop shop roundup of quintessential winter fun (think tobogganing, ice skating, snow tubing, sledding, etc.), indoor winter activities for those who are not interested in the cold, a bunch of holiday magic and light shows (both free & paid - please don’t go broke making memories!), and a ton of winter events (again, so many free ones).
Our Family Memberships Guide has been around, but this is the perfect season to resurrect it. I honestly built it for this moment. So many parents are ready to pull their hair out at the clutter of toys in their house. And the prospect of hearing “What toys should I buy?” actually makes my skin crawl. Send them this guide and have year-round fun experiences instead.
Go back to the fun of the holidays and winter. And if the thought of building a snowman makes you want to hide under a blanket, see if there’s a way you just… don’t? Personally, daycare sent home fake snow last week and I’m all about a messy project if it means I don’t have to get cold. But for some of you, that is your personal H-E-double-hockey-sticks (this is a family website, I probably shouldn’t swear…).
The point is: find what works for you and your family.
Take care, take a breath, and take a moment.
Kayla
