The Holidays Through a Mum’s Eyes: Magical, Messy, and Exhausting
From the outside, the holidays look like twinkling lights, matching pajamas, and cozy family moments. From a mum’s point of view — especially as a mum of three — they also look like late-night wrapping, endless to-do lists, and cold coffee reheated for the third time.
Don’t get me wrong — there is magic here. Seeing the excitement in my children’s eyes, watching traditions come to life, and slowing down just enough to feel grateful reminds me why we do all this in the first place. Those moments are real, and they matter.
But there’s another side we don’t talk about enough.
The planning. The cooking. The remembering of gifts, school events, family expectations, and emotional needs — multiplied by three and often carried quietly. The holidays can feel like a beautiful performance, and as a mum of three, I’m usually the one working behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly.
This year, I noticed something shift in me. I stopped chasing perfection. The cookies didn’t all turn out right. The house wasn’t spotless. Some traditions were simplified, and a few were skipped altogether. And you know what? The joy didn’t disappear. If anything, it grew.
Motherhood during the holidays is messy. It’s loud, emotional, tiring, and deeply meaningful all at once — especially with three little (or not-so-little) personalities under one roof. It’s learning to hold gratitude and exhaustion in the same breath. It’s realizing that our presence matters more than our productivity.
So if you know a mum — whether she’s a mum of one or many — please help out where you can. Offer to cook, clean, watch the kids, or simply ask what she needs. And don’t forget to tell her how grateful you are. Let her know her effort is seen, appreciated, and valued — even if she makes it all look effortless.
As this season comes to a close, I’m reminding myself — and maybe you need this reminder too — that the magic isn’t in how perfectly we execute the holidays. It’s in the love, the laughter, and the way we show up, even when we’re tired.
Happy holidays!
Mammazanny.
Leave a Reply