Up next in 10
Navigating Holiday Stress for Busy Moms | Christmas Gift Wrap With Me & Slowing Down Without Guilt
Dec 23, 2025
Subscribe to the newsletter for free resources, downloadable content and to connect more! https://motherhoodandhomemaking.beehiiv.com/
Subscribe to our Family Disney Channel if you love travel tips and budgeting! https://www.youtube.com/@OurWorldOfDisney
Let’s Connect on Social Media!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motherhoodandhomemaking/
Access the Motherhood Library: www.motherhoodandhomemaking.com
Access the Homeschool Library: www.themomresource.com
Don’t forget to Subscribe and Say Hello! XOXO
#CleanWithMe #DailyCleaningRoutine #StayAtHomeMomLife #HomemakingMotivation #MotherhoodJourney #SlowLivingMama #ChristianHomemaker #TidyHomeTips #CleanHomeHabits #MomLifeUnfiltered #RealLifeHomemaking #FaithFilledLiving #IntentionalMotherhood #HomeReset #PeacefulHomeVibes #Sahm #Biblicalhomemkaing
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:14
The holiday season is meant to feel
0:16
joyful, but the truth is that for many
0:19
moms, it often feels rushed, noisy, and
0:22
emotionally heavy. There's a lot to
0:24
prepare for, a lot to remember, and
0:26
sometimes there's very little space to
0:28
rest. Welcome to motherhood and
0:30
homemaking. My name is Heaven and today
0:33
I want to have just an honest and simple
0:36
heartfelt conversation with you. I
0:38
wanted to just be like sitting across
0:40
the table from a friend at the kitchen
0:42
table. No pressure, no perfection. As
0:45
you move through your tasks today, I
0:47
want to help you navigate the stress
0:49
that naturally comes with this season
0:50
and give you simple ways to protect your
0:52
peace while still showing up for your
0:54
family. As I wrap gifts today, I'm also
0:57
wrapping up a weekend that felt a little
0:59
bit heavier than expected. Our family
1:02
had a little bit of a stressful time and
1:04
it forced me to pause and not the kind
1:06
of pause that I planned, but definitely
1:09
the kind that humbles you and reminds
1:11
you that you are human. without sharing
1:14
all of the details that are meant to
1:16
stay private. Our family just
1:18
experienced something that was a little
1:20
bit unexpected and it kind of pulled me
1:23
out of productivity mode even though I
1:25
had plans, even though I had content
1:28
scheduled, but that's just how life is.
1:30
It doesn't always ask you for permission
1:33
when something comes up. So, instead of
1:35
filming, instead of staying busy,
1:38
instead of editing, instead of pushing
1:40
forward, I had to regulate. I had to
1:42
comfort and I had to stop. And that is
1:44
something that is hard for someone like
1:46
me because I like consistency. I like
1:49
following through. And I like showing
1:51
up. And I know that many moms are like
1:54
me in that way. But sometimes showing up
1:57
looks like choosing rest, prayer, quiet,
2:00
and present instead of performance. If
2:03
you ever had something to put down that
2:05
you cared about, even temporarily, to
2:07
care for your family or for yourself,
2:09
then I'm sure that you can understand.
2:10
and know that I see you and I'm right
2:13
there with you, too. Holiday stress
2:16
usually is not about one big thing.
2:19
Instead, it builds quietly through small
2:22
pressures, just stacking on top of each
2:24
other. And at first, it seems like we've
2:26
got this, but then remembering what
2:28
everyone needs, making sure nothing is
2:30
forgotten, trying to create meaningful
2:33
moments while staying on budget, keeping
2:35
routines while everything feels
2:37
disrupted. Sometimes the stress can kind
2:40
of just creep up. It lives in the mental
2:43
lanning, the emotional anticipation of
2:45
how everyone is going to experience this
2:48
season. And you might feel pressure to
2:49
make the holidays magical while also
2:51
staying cheerful, organized, and calm.
2:54
And that expectation alone can be
2:57
exhausting. If you feel a little more
2:59
tired than joyful right now, it's okay.
3:01
It doesn't mean that you're ungrateful.
3:03
It doesn't mean that you're failing. It
3:05
doesn't mean that something is wrong.
3:07
But it does mean that you are human.
3:09
Slowing down does not mean giving up on
3:12
the holidays. Everything does not have
3:14
to fall apart. But it does mean choosing
3:17
a pace that your body and your mind can
3:20
sustain. One of the most helpful mindset
3:23
shifts is realizing that everything does
3:26
not need to be done at once and
3:28
everything doesn't need to be done at
3:30
all. The urgency we feel is often
3:33
self-created and sometimes we just need
3:35
to prioritize a few simple things. So
3:38
ask yourself today, what truly needs to
3:41
be done today and what can wait? You are
3:44
allowed to wrap fewer gifts in one
3:46
setting. You're allowed to sit down even
3:48
when the house is not perfect. You're
3:50
allowed to choose rest before resentment
3:52
sets in. Slowing down is a form of
3:55
wisdom, not weakness. And in fact, the
3:57
Bible and God recommends that we also
4:00
slow down. So, here are a few gentle
4:03
tools to regulate holiday stress. A few
4:05
practical ways to calm your nervous
4:07
system down during this busy season.
4:10
They're simple, realistic, and they're
4:12
just meant to fit into real mom life and
4:14
hopefully lift up your spirits if you've
4:16
been feeling overwhelmed. First, build
4:19
intentional pauses. Not long breaks,
4:22
just small ones. A deep breath before
4:25
you react. Think before speaking. A
4:29
moment of quiet before moving on to the
4:32
next task or starting your day. Simplify
4:35
expectations. Not every tradition has to
4:38
happen every year. Not every family has
4:41
to be visited. Not every meal has to be
4:43
elaborate. Not every moment needs to be
4:45
captured or shared. Not every corner of
4:47
your house has to be decorated.
4:52
One thing I often encourage busy moms,
4:55
busy homemaker, anyone in a busy season
4:57
to focus on is protecting your mornings
5:01
and your evening. Soon as you wake up in
5:03
the morning and just before you go to
5:05
sleep. These are often the most
5:07
sensitive parts of the day. A calmer
5:10
start and a gentler close can change the
5:13
entire tone of your home. Another thing
5:16
is to limit over stimulation when
5:19
possible. turning off background noises,
5:21
trying not to multitask. Instead, light
5:24
a candle, create a quieter environment
5:26
for yourself and your family. And all of
5:28
these small choices really do add up a
5:31
lot more than we realize. And you really
5:34
do feel it. Just like all of the small
5:38
tiny everyday responsibilities and
5:40
stress can add up, so can those small
5:42
intentional choices, but in a more
5:45
beneficial way. Holiday stress is not
5:49
only physical, it can often be emotional
5:51
as well. So maybe you're carrying
5:54
expectations from your family. You might
5:57
be managing your children's or your
5:59
spouse's emotions. You might be holding
6:01
unspoken grief, comparison, or pressure.
6:06
It's okay to acknowledge that joy and
6:08
stress can exist at the same time.
6:12
One thing that helps is naming how you
6:15
feel without judgment. saying to
6:17
yourself, "This is a lot right now."
6:20
Instead of asking why you can't handle
6:22
it better, telling yourself you're doing
6:25
things wrong. Another helpful practice
6:27
is releasing the need to be everything
6:30
to everyone because you are only one
6:33
person, not the entire holiday
6:36
experience.
6:38
Give some things over to someone else in
6:40
the family or even more importantly,
6:43
give it over to God. Your presence in
6:45
your home matters. so much more than
6:48
your performance.
6:50
I want to briefly say this for anyone
6:52
who feels behind.
6:55
I give you permission to pause and catch
6:58
back up. Not that you need permission,
7:01
but maybe you just needed to hear it.
7:03
Even this season, I had to pause for a
7:06
moment. Like I mentioned, when life
7:08
became heavier than expected over the
7:10
past few days, it reminded me that
7:12
stopping doesn't mean felling. Instead,
7:15
it means listening. And honestly, that's
7:18
powerful and it's brave and it's
7:21
intentional. If you have mistakes,
7:24
routines, or plans, you can always begin
7:26
again gently. And it really does start
7:29
with one, one small, one simple but
7:34
often difficult no. Once you do it more,
7:37
you give yourself more and more
7:38
permission to be human, to be humble,
7:42
to walk and share with others who are
7:45
also often walking in the same season of
7:48
life as you. If you're wrapping gifts
7:51
with me, or maybe you're moving
7:53
throughout your house, folding some
7:55
clothes, cleaning, doing some laundry,
7:57
whatever it is that you are doing, I
7:59
just want you to know that yes, all of
8:01
that stuff, it's very, very important.
8:04
But something that I realized very
8:06
recently is that your children are going
8:08
to remember how they felt more than what
8:11
they received.
8:13
Most children really don't mind a messy
8:15
home. In fact, most children pretty much
8:18
live in a messy bedroom. And that
8:20
doesn't mean that it's good to have a
8:24
messy home. It just means that your kid
8:26
is probably going to much more prefer
8:30
that you spend time with them rather
8:32
than making sure your home is perfect
8:35
like the Hallmark Christmas movies. Your
8:38
home does not need perfection to hold
8:40
peace. And you do not need to rush to
8:42
make this season meaningful. Slow is
8:45
still productive. Rest is still
8:47
responsible. And peace is still
8:50
possible.
8:52
So take your time and just know that you
8:54
are doing enough.
8:58
I also want to talk about letting go of
9:01
guilt when you choose to paw because it
9:04
always does show up, doesn't it? The
9:06
guilt of unfinished task, the guilt of
9:09
missed days, the guilt of feeling like
9:11
you disappointed someone even when
9:14
nobody said you did. So, here's
9:16
something that I had to remind myself of
9:18
during those days that I missed Vlogmas.
9:22
Consistency is not perfection.
9:24
Consistency is returning.
9:28
Rest does not erase your commitment. It
9:31
protects it. And I'm going to say that
9:32
again. Consistency is not perfection.
9:36
Consistency is returning. You don't
9:39
quit. You keep going.
9:42
Pausing is not quitting. And in some
9:44
cases, pausing is wisdom. It's
9:47
intentional. It's purposeful. It's
9:49
needed. And as moms, we often speak
9:52
grace over everyone else by holding
9:54
ourselves to impossible standards. But
9:56
what if slowing down is actually part of
9:59
faithful stewardship? Stewardship of
10:01
your health, of your family, stewardship
10:04
of your peace. You are allowed to stop
10:07
and you should when life asks you to.
10:11
So, just a few more practical ways to
10:14
navigate holiday specific stress during
10:18
this busy season. Lower the bar without
10:21
lowering the joy. Not everything has to
10:23
be homemade. Not every moment has to be
10:26
documented. And joy is definitely not
10:29
found from exhaustion.
10:32
Focus on what actually matters this
10:34
week. This holiday season, not
10:37
everything on your list has to be
10:39
urgent. Focus on prioritizing and ask
10:41
yourself, what truly needs my energy
10:43
right now? And where do my children,
10:46
where does my family need me right now?
10:50
Build in small pauses, even 5 minutes of
10:54
quiet. Taking a deep breath before you
10:56
respond, or if you're frustrated, a
10:58
moment to pray before you panic. Give
11:02
yourself permission to catch up instead
11:04
of just giving up. It's okay to pause
11:06
and start again. Missing days does not
11:09
mean that the season is ruined. It just
11:11
means that life happens and you are
11:13
human.
11:15
Most importantly, let your children see
11:18
you slow down. It teaches them how to
11:20
regulate, how to slow down, and how to
11:22
be patient. They learn more from how we
11:25
handle stress than how perfectly we
11:28
perform during the holiday season.
11:35
So, as we close it out, here is just a
11:37
reminder that you do not need to prove
11:40
anything by burning yourself out. Your
11:43
children do not need a perfect holiday.
11:46
They need a regulated and present mom.
11:50
Your family does not need more hustle.
11:52
They need your heart. And you do not
11:54
need to prove anything to yourself
11:56
either. As I finish wrapping these
11:58
presents, I'm reminded that the most
12:01
meaningful gift we give our families is
12:03
not what's under the tree or how pretty
12:05
the house looks, but the piece that we
12:08
cultivate inside of our homes and inside
12:11
of our family. So, thank you for being
12:13
here and thank you for giving me grace
12:16
during my pause and giving me time to
12:18
share this with you as well.
12:51
Oh,
13:13
woo.
13:59
Oh,
14:08
oh yeah.
14:20
I hope that you guys enjoyed this
14:22
Christmas gift wrapping video and some
14:25
mom encouragement for this busy holiday
14:27
season. If so, I hope that you'll give
14:28
this video a thumbs up. And if you're
14:30
new here, consider subscribing. I'm
14:32
always sharing motherhood motivation and
14:34
homemaking inspiration. Anything that I
14:36
think is helpful, realistic, and
14:38
relatable.
14:40
But that's going to be all for today's
14:41
video. As always, I'm wishing you guys
14:44
the best holiday season and I will see
14:46
you guys in the next video. Thanks for
14:48
watching. Until next time.