The Holiday season is one of the most energetically charged seasons for many of us, especially mothers.
Tis the season to be jolly, and also pressured into consumerism. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love to give gifts. I’d even say it’s one of my top love languages. As a mother of 5 children though I have learn how to survive holiday consumerism with my ego, wallet and sanity in tact.
The holidays are not about just getting a bunch of stuff to get it.
I remember when our first three children were all 6 and under. Every single commercial that came on TV made them say “I want that!!” and in that moment, they really wanted it. Then they forgot it.
However, I did not forget how excited and happy they were with the idea of getting that thing. Which meant I spent a whole lot of time, energy and money on things that I felt obligated to get.
As parents we are marketed to. It’s important to recognize that.
Companies spend a lot of money to get in front of our faces, and our children’s faces with messages that prey on our vulnerabilities as parents.
“Montessori toys”, “great for development”, and “teaches phonics and physics at the same time!” (I made this one up) pressure us into buying and keeping toys our kids don’t really need. Or even use.
Many mothers feel as though having these toys and materials determine our worth. We feel like we must have these things if we want to be “good mothers”.
And on Christmas morning if there isn’t stacks on stacks of it all, we feel like we have somehow failed.
Even if the stuff we had was overwhelming already.
It’s a strange thing to feel like we have too much, and also not enough at the same time.
My hope for you is to know that you are a wonderful mother. Regardless of what is under your tree. What toys your children have, and don’t have.
You deserve all the happiness in the world, and freedom from cleaning up the same stuff all day long. Especially during the holiday season.