# Get Mom Ready for the Holidays (And If You’re Already Feeling Tense, You’re Not Alone)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/get-mom-ready-podcast-7501224/get-mom-ready-for-the-holidays-and-if-you-re-already-feeling-tense-you-re-not-alone
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/get-mom-ready-podcast-7501224/get-mom-ready-for-the-holidays-and-if-you-re-already-feeling-tense-you-re-not-alone.md
Podcast: [Get Mom Ready Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/get-mom-ready-podcast-7501224)
Published: 2025-12-15T01:04:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.getmomready.com/p/get-mom-ready-for-the-holidays-and
Audio file: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/181612122/05ce1d208390bae68f67490a49073a2d.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/get-mom-ready-podcast-7501224/episodes/get-mom-ready-for-the-holidays-and-if-you-re-already-feeling-tense-you-re-not-alone
Duration seconds: 2343

## Resource

We recorded this episode just days before it airs, which means we’re talking about the holidays in real time. Not the Pinterest version.Not the matching-pajamas, perfectly-timed-dinner, everyone-gets-along version. The real one. If you’re already feeling a knot in your stomach thinking about family gatherings, schedules, expectations, or how you’re going to hold it all together this season, then this episode is for you. Because here’s the truth:The holidays don’t just add joy. They add pressure. More people.More plans.More opinions.More logistics.More memories (good and hard). And for so many moms, it brings up the same quiet question every year: How do I stay connected…without it robbing my joy or burning myself out? Let’s Start With a Reframe One of the most important moments in this conversation came early, when Hannah reminded us of something simple—but powerful: Most people are not trying to hurt you. That seven-thirty dinner invitation?The late-night gathering?The unrealistic expectation? It’s rarely malicious. Often it’s coming from people who haven’t had small kids in decades or who simply don’t live inside your daily reality. Which means we’re left with a choice: We can stew in resentment and dread…Or we can communicate. Not perfectly.Not scripted.Not “therapized.” Just honestly. Boundaries Aren’t About Pushing People Away This episode gently dismantles one of the most misunderstood ideas in modern motherhood: boundaries. Hannah said it best: “A boundary is something we do to stay connected, not to cut people off.” Read that again. Boundaries aren’t punishments.They’re clarifiers.They’re not about controlling other people—they’re about being honest about what we can do. A boundary sounds like: * “We’d love to come, but we need to leave by 6:30.” * “Five o’cloc…

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