It always starts with a list, doesn’t it? The presents to buy, the food to prep, the events to remember. We think we’re staying organised — but somewhere between “buy tape” and “remember the elf,” the list becomes something else. It becomes pressure. So this year, let’s rewrite it. Not the never-ending kind of list that leaves you chasing your tail, but one that feels like a gentle guide. A reminder that you’re allowed to prioritise peace just as much as presents. Sometimes I look at my list and realise it’s full of everyone else’s needs. But this time, I want it to include the things that refill me too — a massage, a moment of quiet, a cup of tea that’s actually warm. Because this Christmas checklist for mamas shouldn’t just help you get things done; it should help you come back to yourself.
The List That Was Supposed to Make It Easier
The funny thing about lists is that they start out as helpers and quietly turn into taskmasters. What begins as a way to stay organised can start whispering “you’re behind” before December even arrives. You write it to make life easier, but somehow it grows — and with it, so does the weight of expectation. But what if your checklist didn’t have to look like that? What if it felt softer — more of a compass than a command? A list that holds space for joy and rest, not just errands and reminders. One that reminds you of who you are in the middle of it all — not just what you need to do next. In early learning, we call this scaffolding — building supports that hold a child’s growth without overwhelming them. Your checklist can do the same: a framework that holds, not hurries. Think of it as a gentle hand on your shoulder saying, “You’ve got this, and you don’t have to do it all.” Because that’s the kind of structure that actually supports growth — not just in children, but in us, too.
Step One: Start With What Actually Matters
Before you write anything down, ask yourself: What do I want this Christmas to feel like?
That question alone changes everything. Suddenly, it’s not about having the most gifts under the tree or saying yes to every invite — it’s about shaping a season that feels true to your family. I often think back to the moment in Why Letting Kids Be Little Is the Best Gift This Christmas when the magic was found in messy moments, not curated ones. Kids don’t crave perfection — they crave connection. They read your energy more than they remember the details. So before you tick the first box, pause. Close your eyes, picture your family in the middle of Christmas morning, and ask yourself what matters most. If it’s joy, laughter, calm — that’s your starting point. The rest is optional. In the classroom, we start every plan with an “intent.” What do we want children to feel and learn? You can plan your season the same way — lead with feeling before function.
Step Two: Simplify the “Shoulds”
Here’s the truth — half of what’s on our Christmas lists doesn’t even belong to us. They’re borrowed “shoulds.”
The matching pyjamas. The themed wrapping. The endless homemade treats. Lovely ideas — but only if they don’t drain you. Take a good look at what’s weighing you down and ask: who am I doing this for? Letting go isn’t failure; it’s clarity. Much like we teach children to edit their art — knowing when to stop adding more — simplifying your season makes the masterpiece shine brighter. Just like Christmas Changes After Kids, the magic evolves. It becomes about memory-making, not expectation-meeting. And when you strip back the extras, you rediscover what your family truly loves. That’s the heart of any Christmas checklist for mamas — not perfection, but peace, and the space to savour what really matters. In early childhood we call it “curating the environment.” The less clutter, the more meaningful the play. The same goes for December — clear the noise and let your joy have space to breathe.
Step Three: Anchor Your Days
A good checklist doesn’t just remind you what to do; it reminds you how to feel while you do it. Add “slow breakfast” next to “buy batteries.” Write “watch the sunset” beside “prep dessert.” These micro-anchors aren’t fluff — they’re protection from the burnout that can sneak in mid-December. The beauty of Christmas routines for kids is that the same principles keep us grounded. Simple cues — music, lighting, a familiar scent — help our brains know what’s next. That’s rhythm, not rigidity. When my little one senses I’m rushing, he speeds up too. But when I slow my pace, he naturally mirrors it. Anchors create that calm energy shift without saying a word. Early learning isn’t built on rules; it’s built on executive function — helping children manage impulses and transitions. Your anchors do the same for your mind — helping you move gently from task to rest.
Step Four: Choose Memories Over Perfection
The list will never end. There’s always one more thing. But the memories that truly stay? They’re often the ones we didn’t plan. The slightly burnt cookies, the lopsided tree, the kids in pyjamas at noon. The heart of this Christmas checklist for mamas isn’t control — it’s connection. The more we loosen our grip, the more space joy finds to slip in. Presence isn’t about doing less; it’s about being more in the moments that matter. It’s something I touched on in How to Enjoy Christmas with Kids Without Going Crazy — that the best magic happens when we stop chasing it. Because the truth is, joy doesn’t come from the to-do list; it comes from the laughter echoing through the mess. In early education, we say, “process over product.” The goal isn’t the perfect craft — it’s the learning, the joy, the journey. Parenting — and Christmas — are no different.
Step Five: Protect Your Energy (and Your Peace)
Your energy sets the tone for your home. If you’re running on empty, everything starts to feel heavier. That’s why your checklist needs space for rest — not as a reward, but as a requirement. In This December, You Come First, I included tools to help you do just that. The Energy Tracker helps you notice your natural ebbs and flows, so you can plan your energy the same way you plan your meals. The Permission Slips remind you that skipping a social event might be the healthiest choice you make all week. And the Let It Go List — that’s your invitation to release the invisible expectations that never belonged to you anyway. When you view rest and reflection as part of your Christmas checklist for mamas, it turns from another to-do into a gentle act of self-care. You’re not meant to carry it all, mama. And the beauty of teaching — and motherhood — is learning to share the load. We teach children about “co-regulation,” but there’s also “co-rest.” When one person pauses, everyone else feels the shift. Rest can ripple too.
Step Six: Leave Room for Magic
Here’s the thing — the best moments aren’t on the list. They sneak up between errands and wrapping paper.
The spontaneous sing-along in the car, the cuddle that delays bedtime, the shared laughter when things go sideways. That’s the message woven through The Magic of the In-Between Days — that life’s sweetest memories often live in the pauses. So leave space for them. Don’t schedule every spark of magic; just create room for it to arrive. In Reggio-inspired learning, we call this “the hundred languages of expression” — the idea that magic speaks in many forms: movement, laughter, quiet, light. The same goes for Christmas — the language of magic is presence.
Step Seven: Make This Christmas Yours
If this season is about giving, don’t forget to include yourself on the list. Add your name beside the word “joy.” Add your needs between the lines. Because the most meaningful Christmas checklist for mamas isn’t written on paper — it’s lived through intention. Let this be the year you stop surviving December and start experiencing it. Let it feel simple, soft, and yours. In teaching, we talk about “reflective practice” — stepping back to see the whole picture. Do the same here: reflect, adjust, and honour how far you’ve come.
So as you fold this checklist away, remember — it’s not the plan that makes the season meaningful, it’s the way you live it. If you’re ready to make this Christmas feel calmer, lighter, and a little more like you, This December, You Come First is the perfect next step. Inside, you’ll find gentle tools to help you turn your intentions into moments that actually happen — like Permission Slips that remind you it’s okay to say no, and a Let It Go List that helps you release the pressure of trying to do it all. There’s even a December Compass to help you realign when things start spinning faster than you’d like.
Think of it as your quiet companion through the season — a space to slow down, reflect, and fill your own cup while you’re filling everyone else’s. Because you deserve to be part of the magic too.
The best Christmas checklist for mamas isn’t about what to do — it’s about who you want to be while you’re doing it.
Sign Up For The Newsletter Below ↓