Here is a Calm Mom tip for surviving (and maybe even enjoying!) the holiday season with your little ones: enjoy the little things!  Let’s be honest moms. Life changes in every way possible once you have children. Perhaps before kids, you used to decorate your house for the holidays in a way that would rival even Martha Stewart. Perhaps you used to go on amazing vacations over the holidays, sightseeing from sun-up to sundown. Maybe you were the couple that never missed a holiday party and was always the last to leave.

This holiday season will be different. All of the hard work associated with caring for a newborn won’t magically disappear for the week between Christmas and New Years! So, it is important to be mindful of the little pleasures – catching a glimpse of your baby enjoying some playtime with his grandparents, watching your baby learn to clap his hands to your favorite holiday music, playing with your little one in your pajamas till noon because you don’t have to rush off to work. These special moments are not things that you will plan – they’ll just happen. But, if you are too busy and stressed out, you might miss them. So, be present in the moment. Make sure that for some time each day, be completely focused on BEING with your baby. That means no phone calls, no emails, no football games, no cooking, no…not even any worrying. Just lose yourself in the moment and cherish those precious memories.

Here is a Calm Mom tip for surviving (and maybe even enjoying!) the holiday season with your little ones: have reasonable expectations.  Because the holidays are supposed to be a magical time of year, most of us fall into the trap of having unreasonable expectations. Yet, when have unreasonable expectations, it is most often the case that we end up disappointed. Is your baby a champion spitter-upper? Well, you can’t expect to get by on one special outfit for the entire Christmas day. Does your baby go to bed at 7 every night? Well, you can’t expect her to be in good spirits at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Does your toddler get obnoxious after sitting at the dinner table for more than 20 minutes? Don’t expect him to sit still for a three hour holiday dinner.

When making your holiday plans, remind yourself of how your baby typically behaves. And, assume he or she will behave exactly the same way on Christmas, Hanukah, and New Years! Then, make your plans accordingly. For the champion spitter-uppers, spend less on holiday outfits, but buy two (or three) instead of one (and bring extra clothes for yourself too!). For the baby who goes to bed at 7, give her a New Year’s kiss at 7 and put her to bed. For the squirmy toddler, prepare a bunch of toys and activities that he can play with by the table while everyone is still lingering over their eggnog. Being realistic will ensure a much better time for all.

Here is a Calm Mom tip for surviving (and maybe even enjoying!) the holiday season with your little ones: Speak up!

A lot of women are used to just “going with the flow” before having babies. Yet, when we become moms, small decisions – like what time to have Christmas dinner – seem incredibly important. Although it is important to be somewhat flexible over the holidays, it is also essential that you speak up. Families who have not had babies around in years are going to forget what it’s like and if you don’t ask for what you need, no one will offer.

Now ladies, this does not mean you need to get unpleasant with your family and friends. It is essential that you communicate calmly to get what you need. By communicating calmly, you will get what you need, while also respecting the needs of others. Consider this example:

“Mom, I know we’ve always started our holiday dinner at 8 PM. And, I know everyone wants the baby to be a part of things. So, it would be best for everyone if we could start dinner at 6 this year instead of 8”.

As the risk of coming across as demanding, do try to set yourself up for success this holiday season.