I have a bit of a complicated relationship with this time of year, and I know I’m not the only one who has a love-hate relationship with the festive season.
It can simultaneously be the most wonderful and most dreaded time of year for many reasons.
I blame a combination of Hallmark movies, Martha Stewart and “mummy bloggers” for the unnecessary added pressure and stress to create the perfect holly jolly Christmas.
I swear there’s going to be Christmas tree decorating added as a competitive sport at the Olympics soon, and Martha will be head judge. Actually, for some, the whole silly season appears to be a competition of sorts, all vying for the chance to be crowned the Christmas Champion. When I was a kid, my parents didn’t have to do half the stuff I see parents doing now. The elaborate Elf on the Shelf scenarios that some parents manage to dream up and execute each night while their children are asleep are impressive. Apparently, the whole premise is that Santa sends one of his elves to spy on kids, checking whether they’re naughty or nice, and on Christmas Eve, said elf travels back to the North Pole to report back to Santa. I find it slightly creepy, but admittedly I could absolutely see myself getting sucked in and participating one day if I’m a parent. Imagine though, if your kid is the only one at school who doesn’t have Santa’s elf come and visit. What a continuous bloody guilt trip December must be for so many parents. Actually, to all parents navigating Christmas, I salute you.
I know I’m sounding like a bit of a Christmas Grinch right now, and I assure you I’m not, I do like most aspects of the season. I like that it’s traditionally a time of year that celebrates connection and festive cheer. In reality, though, the holiday season can exacerbate feelings of loneliness, exhaustion, stress, grief, financial pressure, and anxiety. I think the challenges faced throughout the year can really be amplified by the time we get to December and the festive season. As a community, we’ve had to navigate a lot of cumulative trauma these past few years. The pandemic continues to impact our lives in so many ways and, understandably, it takes a toll on our mental health.
