Navigating Christmas Magic as a Working Mom: 5 Reflections
The shimmering season has arrived, stirring up holiday hustle and bustle. But amid the flurries of list-checking and gift planning here in my Freehold, New Jersey home, I pause to cherish a working mom’s Christmas through a unique lens of blessings, flexibility, and perspective.
Here are 5 ways I embrace the gift of the holidays as a parent navigating family and career:
Traditions Slow Down the Speeding Season
While workdays rush rapidly behind screens and keyboards, the nostalgia of traditions like bundling up for our NYC holiday adventure together transports me back to the wonder of childhood. Lingering over cozy chats, marveling at the Christmas tree at the Rockafeller Center, and following it up with a delectable dinner at Little Italy are just a few of the simple moments that counter the hectic flurry of the holiday season.
The Joy of Being Present
Silly pranks gone wrong or yearly photo outtakes gift much needed moments of pure, unencumbered joy and distraction from the weights of work and life. Embracing humor and play this season keeps me grounded in what matters right now.
Flexibility Fuels Connection
Being a busy sales professional often requires early mornings and late nights. But having workplace flexibility becomes especially invaluable this time of year so I get to spend as much time as I can with my family. It makes me incredibly grateful that my job empowers me to enjoy precious festive moments like these.
Creativity Flourishes
Free schedules inspire imaginative holiday projects like choreographing flamboyant TikTok dance-offs, engineering the perfect Anisettle cookies, or filming my youngest son Mikey enthusiastically opening his Christmas cookie calender for the year. While I’m no Spielberg, embracing laughter and possibility helps this working mom’s (sometimes) weary soul grow young again!
Joy Gets Multiplied
Watching my kids rekindle their sibling bonds and serve others in our community fills my cup exponentially more than any material gift ever could. Seeing family thrive makes hustling through the year infinitely worthwhile. My greatest Christmas wish is their happiness and health always.
While Christmas sneakily speeds by year after year, purposefully reflecting on the magic allows me as a working mom to fully soak it in with peace, presence and gratitude. Here’s to cherishing every cookie-scented, carol-tinged second together!