wannabe holiday mom

‘Tis the season, holiday season, and this year I’m not pregnant, anticipating my first child, sleeping in three-hour increments or learning how to live life with a baby. This year I’m feeling like a holiday mom pro, and I’ve been mentally preparing for this all year. Holiday season – bring it on.

Ok, ok, shhhh, disregard that holidaying hasn’t been in my forte in years past. I promise this is a new year.

Knock knock, October 31.

Shoot, I had so many clever Halloween costume ideas, for me, my husband and my baby. But what were they? Ugh, I don’t really feel like spending a bunch of money on an outfit for a kid when we don’t have a party to attend. I’ll do something practical, but I’m going to get ahead! I had the supplies ready for three weeks – check. Actually, I had THREE costume options for my son (made of clothes in the closet and Dollar Tree items), yet on Halloween, it turned 5:30pm outta nowhere, and we were still in daycare clothes. At least we were wearing a Halloween shirt that day (that a family member bought him, thanks, whoever).

I also made a true effort to attend his 3:30pm holiday party, but my work call ran late, and twenty minutes later the “party” was already over. I did bring the candy I had signed up to bring, though. Well, I forgot to buy that bag when I was at the store, so I just brought a bag I planned to hand out at my house. It might have been open because I ate a piece or two. Whatever.

I also say every year that I want to throw a Halloween party and invite our friends. A Saturday night hoorah in all those great costume ideas I had tucked away in my mind – that would be fun. Or I promise, now every year, that NEXT year we’ll decorate the yard and have friends over while we pass out candy. This year there was a trick-or-treat sign on my door and three friends came by for dinner. That counts, right?

No question, not taking Jensen trick-or-treating because he doesn’t walk, is not to the age to eat candy, and heaven knows I don’t need it all. Until I saw everyone’s pictures. Dang it, I should have taken him to like one house for the photo opp! And maybe I should have tried a little harder on that costume, instead of gluing ribbon onto a plastic golf club as neighborhood kids began knocking on our door.

So, next comes Thanksgiving.

We’re really going to have a Friendsgiving this year. And I’m going to make a cute little fall banner that I can redecorate with every year. Can’t wait to have friends over to enjoy the feast. Can it still be called Friendsgiving if it happens after Thanksgiving? Or maybe I’ll just RSVP “yes” for once to one of those Friendsgiving invites we already received so we don’t get kicked off the invite list. They’re potluck – don’t forget, self.

Maybe we’ll sneak a trip to the pumpkin patch. Just kidding, that never crossed my mind. But like everyone else is doing it, so I have clearly missed some memo, right?

At least I can have redemption on actual Thanksgiving and knock a new recipe out of the park. Though sneaking in some store-bought rolls does sound really easy.

Shoot, I haven’t even emailed the family yet about our meal plan of attack. We’re hosting this year, and my mother-in-law reminded me about planning like two months ago.

And after that, Christmas.

I’ve been keeping a gift list all year, so shopping shouldn’t be stressful. Actually, I should probably start ordering now if I plan to get ahead. And I should definitely just stick with the list and ignore all those enticing Black Friday deals. Even though spontaneous Black Friday shopping with the family can be fun. I promise this year I’ll start wrapping early too, and not wait until like the day before Christmas.

For a one-year-old, who just had a birthday, do I really have to buy him presents? They don’t really remember this stuff yet, right? Oh, that probably looks bad. I guess I’ll just a wrap a few clothes or toys I planned to buy for him anyway. Two birds with one stone.

Is putting baby food and a new sippy cup in your kids stocking acceptable? I was always so jealous of friends who got stockings full of goodies well past the Santa age. I fully commit to being a stocking mom. Just, maybe, we’ll start next year. Can someone pleassssse confirm when they start to really remember these things? And can someone also please confirm when setting out cookies and milk is necessary? I think I’ll skip it for a one-year-old, even for a photo opp.

Speaking of photos, I’ve officially sent out two years of Christmas cards for five Christmases of marriage. Last year was a birth announcement. This year Jensen’s first birthday invite had a pic. Can that be two birds with one stone again? There’s just a lot to do, and I’m kind of waiting till he can walk before hurling my wallet at another family photo shoot. Darn timing.

Christmas decorations. I can do it! I have collected just the right amount of reasonable decor. Except I really want a fuller, new tree. And I’d like to start using assorted, more sentimental ornaments and not the perfectly matching ones. But maybe I’ll just wait till after Christmas is over to buy this stuff while it’s on sale, and for now, I’ll just stick with this same $30 college Christmas tree one more year. No really, I’ll remember this year to stock up on new ornaments after Christmas.

Now the Christmas lights. Yes, we’ve owned a house for six years, but we really are going to do Christmas lights this year. I love the neighborhood spirit! Lesson learned, though, lights don’t really go on sale, so we might as well buy them during the actual season… if we can decide on colored lights vs plain white. Eww, we don’t really have a weekend to climb a ladder. How about we just put lights in the bushes this year? That’d be a start.

Christmas pajamas – check (thanks again to family). Christmas outfit – I think that plaid shirt in his closet will do. Christmas pictures with Santa – that Domain Santa wasn’t the greatest, but the convenience is. Christmas party with the friends – “go local” gift exchange, cupcake decorating, DIY exchange – I now may not be able to make that happen, again, this year. Christmas traditions – like matching pajamas, gingerbread house making, cookie decorating contest, advent calendar – I think I’ll save that for the older years. Elf on the Shelf – I’ve been warned!!!!

Ok, I think I got Christmas covered. If I’m lucky, we really will put some lights in our bushes… oh, we don’t have bushes… flower bed?…. and my cousin will gift us her going-to-toss fluffier Christmas tree. I don’t think we’ll ever make it to a farm to cut one down. That sounds like a lot of work.

But after Christmas, are we really done?

You kids and your Valentines. And in my family, we always celebrate Easter. I know I grew up saying the Easter Bunny will visit our house and leave an egg trail to a treat, but do I still have time to retract that statement? I already bought a stars and stripes outfit clearanced last summer (thank you, Old Navy sale rack), so planning ahead for July 4th, finally, a win!

The truth is, I love the spirit of the holiday season, beyond a materialistic way. I love experiences, memories, and traditions, but when some of this stuff doesn’t come naturally, it’s hard, especially when you love (mentally) planning. I realize now why things were the way they were when I was growing up, and I didn’t give my mom enough credit for the things she did do. And while I know I will probably add a few traditions to our own family agenda, I’m going to go ahead and call a spade a spade – I’m a wannabe holiday mom. All great in my head until it’s zero hour and alas, this year is the same as the last.

 
 
Kendra Germenis
Kendra joined the mom club in 2016, followed by the #boymom club in Summer 2019. Kendra loves to write, and for AMB, enjoys sharing her new parent experiences, tips, and general love of Austin. For her, life is a balance of spending quality time with her family, pursuing her program management career, and still soaking up life and adventures. She also freelances through her art and design shop, Kitsy Co. Assorted loves: art, date nights, culture, road trips, Bravo, breweries, chocolate, house remodeling, sunshine, live music and patios.

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