It's no surprise that the holiday season is straight craziness, especially when you have children. From family trips cross country to visit other family members, to unbridled excitement to presents to traditions; when you're a parent, the holiday season is exhausting. However, I would also argue that Thanksgiving is much more fun after you have kids (in fact, every holiday is) and the good far outweighs the bad and the ugly. Usually, anyway.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, let’s all take a moment to pause and to appreciate our current stage of life as parents to young children. I mean, think about all the things that are more fun with a kid: playgrounds, parades, trick-or-treating (if you’re doing that without kids, gross), petting zoos, and songs that include intricate hand motions. Oh, and family gatherings. Definitely family gatherings, especially ones that require long periods of time spent in kitchens. I love having a little person in the house for snuggle breaks and spontaneous games of, “I’m going to get you!” (that are extra fun during the holidays since he can’t run as fast in his dressy shoes).
So, yeah, sometimes parenting can feel extra stressful during the holidays, but there are big rewards, too. When you watch your little one meet and connect with distant family members or old friends, you'll get those awesome warm and fuzzy feelings only the holiday season can provide. So, if you’re like me and sometimes you need a reminder of the special things about this time of year, have no fear. I’ve started this very list for you: