It’s Christmas Eve, and if I’ve learned one thing this holiday season, it’s that nothing ever goes exactly as planned—and that’s okay. Things change, gifts go missing, printer adapters mysteriously vanish, and sometimes your son sleeps in Heathrow with a rat for company. (Don’t worry, he’s fine—just significantly more awake now.)
But even when the chaos reaches sitcom levels, Christmas isn’t about perfection. It’s about the feeling. The moments. The togetherness, even if that looks a little different than you imagined.
Take the other day, for example. While walking at my daughter’s revalidation center, I noticed the plants outside were budding. In December. I mean, seriously, did these plants miss the memo? It’s like Mother Nature threw up her hands and said, “Whatever, do what you want.” And honestly, that’s been the vibe of this whole month. Everything feels a little off-script, but it’s still beautiful in its own way.
And the gifts? Oh, the gifts. I’m pretty sure at least one of them is still hiding somewhere in my house, laughing at me. But you know what? It doesn’t matter. My daughter will still light up when she opens whatever we did manage to wrap, and my son will have a thousand stories to share when he calls from the States, probably about food portions and weird Christmas traditions.
What I’ve realized this year is that Christmas isn’t in the decorations (though those tangled lights do their best to steal the show). It’s not in the perfectly wrapped presents or even in sticking to some magical idea of what the holidays should look like. It’s in the moments we share—laughing at the chaos, embracing the imperfections, and finding joy in the unexpected.
So, here I am, surrounded by a mess of wrapping paper, sipping my coffee, and feeling more grateful than ever. Because no matter how things change, the heart of Christmas stays the same. It’s about love, connection, and a little bit of chaos to keep things interesting.
Wishing you all a Christmas filled with laughter, love, and maybe even a budding tree or two to remind you that life doesn’t always follow the rules—and that’s where the magic happens.
Merry Christmas, everyone! Stay cheerful, stay cozy, and may your gifts not go missing like mine.
With love and laughter,
A Cheerful Mom Who’s Finally Embracing the Chaos
