With all the best will in the world no parent is going to be able to live up to the expectations they have about Christmas.
I blame the adverts which makes it look like Christmas Day is easy and not a time when you are forced to see hate-mongering relatives, getting elbowed out of the way by vicious shoppers and never accomplishing that infinite to do list.
Save yourself some of the Yuletide hassle and read the 17 mistakes all parents make and avoid the stress.
1. Asking a child what they would like too early in the month. Start of December – OMG I love Frozen. Mid December – I hate Frozen.
2. Accidentally buying one child more presents than the others. And only realising on Christmas Eve.
3. Trying to buy teenage children clothing. Just don’t.
4. Calendar clashes. Parties, pantos, relatives visiting, nativity performances.
5. Getting into long winded discussions with children about Father Christmas. He does it all by magic. MAGIC.
6. Forgetting to take the turkey out of the freezer.
7. Hiding presents in the same place every year.
8. Letting children eat sweets pretty much all day. Just wait until they crash…
9. Promising to get them that toy. The one that has appeared on all the must have lists. And has been sold out since November. Oh it’s okay, it’s on eBay for £500.
10. Telling children to make a Christmas list. Just don’t. You would need a sizeable bank loan to fulfil it all.
11. Spending too much time in the shops and not enough time with kids. And online shopping while they’re in the house doesn’t count as quality time together.
12. Letting them stay up late. Sticking to the schedule is dull but a cranky toddler is not much fun either.
13. Not keeping track of who bought what during the present opening frenzy leads to awkward thank you letters.
14. There are only so many times you can threaten to call Father Christmas to report naughty behaviour before its falls on deaf ears.
15. Bad mouthing relatives before a big family meet up. Just keep it zipped until the younger ones have gone to bed at least.
16. Eating the kids sweets = Haribo headache
17. Expecting everything to be perfect. It won’t be so don’t stress.
