A Mother’s Honest Plea Ahead of Christmastime

You know what? This is all too stressful. And if you find yourself double buying packs of cigarettes or switching to vapes and stocking on Lost Mary vape juice in an effort to keep tobacco smells off your clothes, frankly this isn’t your fault. What can we do when the countdown for Christmas starts so early and gets so intense? Sure, people may comment and advise you to quit smoking or vaping because this is not healthy. But you know what else is not healthy? The countdown to Christmas! So next time they comment on your smoking, here’s how to give them a piece of your mind. Tell them precisely this:

With the holiday season looming, I’m knee-deep in the chaos, and Christmas, supposed to be this magical time, feels more like a stress marathon. I mean, don’t get me wrong—I love the whole festive vibe, the lights, and the catchy carols. But trying to keep it all together before Christmas? It’s enough to make me want to yell, “I don’t want to smoke, but seriously, this stress needs to stop. I’ll quit next year if all this madness stops.”

Let’s talk about these mandatory school Christmas shows. I’m sitting there, trying to be all supportive, clapping like crazy for a show that looks like it was put together in a hurry, on a budget that screams “cheap.” And honestly, why are we doing this? Not everyone celebrates Christmas, and these shows feel more like a distraction than a celebration. Trying to keep up the facade of festive enthusiasm? That’s just an extra layer of stress I could do without.

Now, grocery shopping during the holidays is its own ordeal. Imagine battling through crowds with those obnoxious Christmas songs blasting in every store. I just want to grab my groceries in peace without a constant reminder that I’ve got a culinary marathon waiting for me at home. Can’t a person buy eggs without being serenaded by Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is You”? I get that Christmas songs set the mood, but I don’t want to be in the Christmas mood 24/7 throughout November to January!

Then there’s the whole present-buying saga. Black Friday and Cyber Monday become a strategic battle for deals, and after finally snagging them, I’m left trying to hide these treasures from my nosy kids. It’s like playing hide and seek, but with gifts, and it’s not as fun as it sounds. Choosing one toy from their endless wish lists feels like I’m making a life-altering decision. The fear of disappointing them? That’s just another layer of stress to add to the pile.

And don’t get me started on the Elf on the Shelf. What started as a cute idea has turned into a daily mission impossible. Trying to come up with creative elf adventures on top of everything else? It’s like piling stress on stress, and I’m left wondering, was this really a good idea?

In the midst of this chaos, I’m dreaming of a Christmas where stress takes a backseat. A Christmas where I can actually enjoy the magic instead of feeling like I’m drowning in holiday madness. Until that day comes, I’ll keep navigating through the chaos, hoping that next year, the stress will ease up, and I can finally say, “I’ll quit next year if this madness stops.” But in the meantime, if you’re not going to help, let me at least smoke in peace!