I used to DREAD the holiday season
Confession: I used to dread the holiday season. Gifts aren't my love language, shopping isn't fun for me, and single-handedly making the Holidays magical on top of my already full to-do list made me kinda grinchy.
Dear Moms Who Are Dreading the Holidays…
I understand the holiday season isn't all twinkly lights, cozy cocoa, cookies by the fire, and holiday fun because SOMEONE has to hang those twinkly lights, bake the cookies, and plan the fun. For us magic makers, it's a marathon of gift lists, meal planning, travel logistics, school events, closet scouring, outfit buying, and emotional labor that somehow lands squarely on your shoulders.
If you're already feeling the pressure and the dread, it's time to hit pause and rethink how your household handles the holiday load.
Holiday Survival Tips
Here are a few ways to lighten your load this season:
Make the invisible visible. Write down everything you do for the holidays—from buying teacher gifts to remembering Aunt Tammy's food allergies. Then share the list.
Assign tasks based on strengths. If your partner's great at logistics, let them handle travel plans. If you're the creative one, take the lead on decor.
Schedule weekly check-ins. Stay aligned and avoid last-minute meltdowns.
Say "no" more often. You don't have to attend every event or bake every cookie. Boundaries are a gift to yourself….and your family.
If you're thinking, “YEAH RIGHT, MIKAAAA. I can't SHARE MY LIST, DIVIDE TASKS, AND CHAT REGULARLY ABOUT WHO'S DOING WHAT without it devolving into a whole lot of defensiveness and shut-down and me saying something like, “Never mind, I'll just do it!” we might have just stumbled on a bigger problem than having too much on your to-do list for the holidays.
And…it doesn't have to be this way.
Divide and Conquer—Without the Drama
You don't need more willpower and patience—you need a proactive system. That's exactly what you'll get in the How to Divide Household and Family-Related Tasks Without Hating Each Other workshop.
This online workshop is designed for couples who want to stop the cycle of resentment and start working as true co-pilots. Without support and direction, dividing labor is surprisingly difficult, often leading to not-merry conflict. Most couples struggle with this, and I believe we're kinda set up to fail. This workshop works to untangle your to-dos and your communication issues in one fell swoop and comes with:
A framework for figuring out what's “fair” (especially tricky when one partner is a stay-at-home parent)
Customizable task templates to make invisible labor visible
A weekly meeting outline to keep communication flowing
Parenting schedules so everyone gets breaks
Tools to avoid the “nagging wife vs. clueless husband” dynamic
BONUS JUST ADDED!! - A Holiday gift tracker table and instructions (see below), so this isn't all on your plate or taking up space in only your head.
**This isn't just about chores—it's about feeling seen, supported, sane, and…..JOLLY even.
Explore the workshop here: www.mikaross.com/houseandfam
Let This Be the Year You Don't Burn Out
Now? My husband and I head to a coffee shop or bar with our computers in hand around this time of year and plan out our Holiday season. I like to do not-fun things at fun places to take away the sting.
We start a shared gift list table that has columns for each kid, which helps us to keep track of ideas, the amount spent per kid, and whether items are ordered, delivered, and wrapped (now included in the workshop). We chat about what needs to be done, who's doing what, and we bond over how much freaking work being Santa is. It's still a lot, but it's a lot better when we do it together…and I behave a lot less like the Grinch when we're a team. Everyone is happier.
Join the workshop and start dividing the holiday load in a way that actually works: www.mikaross.com/houseandfam
You deserve a holiday season that feels joyful—not exhausting or dreadful. Let's make you less grinchy together.
Happy Holidays?
P.S. - The How to Divide Household and Family-Related Tasks Without Hating Each Other workshop is part of our relateWELL Membership and comes with every.other.workshop I've ever created PLUS every-other-week live Q&As to help you keep moving when you get stuck. AND it costs less than DoorDashing a meal for one per month. It's ridiculous. Also, no cancellation weirdness. Cancel your subscription at any time and continue to have access to the membership for the remainder of your term.
