Let’s take a deep breath together, tea in hand. Christmas is coming, and I know you’re already feeling that mix of excitement, exhaustion, and just a bit of pressure. You’ve got the lists, the plans, the ideas to make it magical. But somehow, the season always feels like it’s rushing past, doesn’t it? And as much as we want to slow down, it’s so easy to get caught up in the idea of perfect. Because here’s the truth, mama—perfect doesn’t matter to them. This Christmas, the best gift you can give is letting kids be little—not through perfect photos or perfectly trimmed trees, but through the memories they’ll carry forever. Your little ones won’t remember the matching pyjamas or the spotless house. They won’t notice if the wrapping paper doesn’t match or if dinner was a little late. What they’ll remember are the moments you let happen: the mess, the laughter, the tiny bits of magic that happen when you stop chasing perfect and start showing up. Because they won’t always be this little. This Christmas, let’s forget the pressure and embrace the beautiful, messy magic that’s already in front of us. If the pressure of Christmas feels heavy this year, remember that it’s okay to slow down and put yourself first. I shared more about finding calm and creating a season that feels good for you in This December, You Come First. But just remember, let them be little.
The Magic of Christmas is in the Moments
It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of a picture-perfect Christmas—beautifully decorated trees, matching pyjamas, and carefully curated moments we can share online. But the truth is, those little faces staring up at you don’t care about perfection. They care about you. They care about the moments—the mess, the laughter, the cookies they “accidentally” ate for breakfast. Why letting kids be little is the best gift this Christmas, comes down to this: they’ll remember the joy, not the perfection. They care about you saying “yes” when they ask to stay up late, just this once. Because mama, they won’t always ask. This Christmas, let them:
- Stay up late whispering about Santa under blanket forts.
- Eat chocolate for breakfast and wear flour-dusted clothes from baking cookies.
- Leave wrapping paper everywhere and play with toys that make way too much noise.
These are the moments they’ll remember. Not the spotless living room or the Pinterest-perfect tablescape. It’s funny how Christmas changes when you have little ones. It becomes less about the perfect gifts and more about seeing the season through their eyes.
The Mess Will Be Gone One Day (But So Will the Little Hands)
I know how hard it is to let go of the mess. Glitter on the floor. Toys underfoot. Sticky fingerprints on the windows you just cleaned. I see you. But one day, mama, it will be quiet. Too quiet. The messy Christmas mornings will fade into something neater. Something tidier. And as lovely as that might sound today, you’ll look back and miss the chaos. You’ll miss the little hands tugging at your sleeve, asking you to help build the train set for the fifth time. And you’ll wish you could go back—just for one more Christmas like this.
Why ‘Letting Them Be Little’ Makes This Christmas Special
Childhood has a funny way of slipping through our fingers. One minute, they’re waking you up at 5am to see if Santa’s been. The next, they’re teenagers, pulling the blankets over their heads because 5am is way too early. It’s these years—the little years—that hold the most magic. These little years hold the most magic—so letting kids be little is the best gift this Christmas. The moments may be fleeting, but the memories will last forever. And the magic? It isn’t in the gifts, the photos, or the decorations. It’s in the way you let go of expectations and see Christmas through their eyes.
- Let them believe in magic, in Santa, in flying reindeer.
- Let them get flour everywhere while baking cookies that may or may not taste like sugar and chaos.
- Let them play too loudly, laugh too hard, and make memories they’ll carry with them forever.
Because they’ll never be this little at Christmas again.
How to Make Christmas Memories You’ll Cherish
If the pressure feels heavy this season, here’s a little perspective shift: what if you let this Christmas be about connection instead of perfection? Here are a few simple Christmas traditions that focus on what truly matters:
- Say yes to spontaneous moments: Build that blanket fort, watch their favourite Christmas movie, and leave the to-do list for another hour.
- Bake imperfect cookies: Who cares if they’re lopsided? They’ll taste better because of the giggles that went into making them.
- Turn messes into memories: Toys everywhere? That’s a sign of little ones making big memories. Let it be.
- Slow down together: Take a beach walk, snuggle under a blanket, or sip hot chocolate while watching the lights on the tree.
These moments don’t require perfection. They just need you, showing up, as their mama. I know the mess and noise can feel overwhelming. If you’re looking for ways to enjoy the season without losing your mind, I’ve shared some helpful tips in How to Enjoy Christmas with Kids Without Going Crazy.
You Won’t Regret This Christmas
One day, you’ll look back and realise these were the years you’d give anything to relive. Not because they were perfect, but because they were real. So this Christmas, remember letting kids be little is the best gift. Let them stay up late, eat chocolate for breakfast, make a mess, and play too loud. You’ll be giving them something money can’t buy—memories full of joy, love, and the magic of being little. Let yourself soak it all in, too. The glitter-covered floors, the too-early wake-ups, the sticky little hands holding yours. These are the moments that make Christmas magical—for them and for you. Because mama, they’ll never be this little at Christmas again.
If this spoke to your heart, I’d love for you to share it with another mama who needs to hear this. Let’s remind each other that messy, imperfect, love-filled Christmases are the most beautiful of all. And if you want more heart-to-heart reminders like this, join my TEA-m—because sometimes, the best gift we can give ourselves is the permission to slow down and just be.
Sign up here, and let’s sip on these moments together.
One day, the mess will be gone, the house will be quiet, and the little hands will have grown. Let this Christmas be the one you hold onto—the one where you let them be little and soaked in every imperfect, beautiful moment.
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