The festive preparations, creating a spicy atmosphere, coming up with, purchasing, and wrapping gifts, writing postcards, and receiving calls from relatives are typically still women's tasks. There wouldn't be a problem with them if they weren't accompanied by solving the family's logistical, educational, and nutritional problems every day, along with work and other female roles.

When the winter break finally arrives, mothers mostly go on leave, and while they create culinary wonders with one hand, they raise children, play board games, and quietly break under the weight of the tasks.

 

Simply Perfect

If you don't want to collapse under the Christmas tree in a nervous breakdown, you first need to get rid of the crazy social pressure you've taken on before. You need to say goodbye to the many boring traditions and figure out what you want as a mother, housewife, and partner to your spouse!

Would you rather order in, or is a Christmas pizza fine for you? Do you only feel good if everyone's favorite dish is on the table, and you don't want to give that up? Do you want to travel during the holidays? Define what you need, because this is your best chance to get what you want. And you know: if mom is happy, the family is too.

 

Don't Shout, Delegate!

Many wives and mothers feel that they simply can't count on anyone, that others don't see the tasks. If you're one of them, it's worth doing some self-examination! Do they really not see that you need help, or are they just afraid to help you?! Maybe they think they can't do it right, so they don't even try? Could it be that when they tried to work with you before, you constantly corrected them?

If you feel that you are partly responsible for the situation, review your own behavior and tell them what you expect from them. If the family has always relied on you for everything, but you're fed up with it, then there's nothing left to do: tell them what you expect from them! Instead of hoping they'll figure out what you need on their own, ask, instruct, delegate! It's faster, more efficient, and more effective than hoping family members will realize what really bothers you.

 

 

Reasonable Commitments: The Christmas Menu

This year, everyone is tightening their belts a bit and spending more thoughtfully. But while we pay attention to costs, it's not worth compromising on quality. It's more sensible to rationalize quantities so that nothing ends up in the trash at the end of the holidays.

To achieve this, first consider which days of the holiday season you will spend at home, when guests are expected, and on which days you will definitely be elsewhere! Once you have this figured out, decide what delicacies you can prepare in advance to delight unexpected guests and what you desire for the holiday. If too many dishes end up on the wish list, simplify: if your favorite bites don't fit into the traditional holiday menu, be creative and unconventional! It's not important for everything to be perfect, but for it to be genuine.

That's why it's worth considering dishes when planning the Christmas menu that, once prepared, can save you 2-3 days of further cooking. A nice piece of shoulder made into pulled pork can first be served with a side dish, then in fresh homemade buns for the family's delight, and a hearty turkey roast can be varied with salads, pasta, or wrapped in a wrap for up to 3-4 days. Think practically and focus on what is important to you, because the holiday is born in the heart!