Mum's 'Christmas morning survival kit' ensures everything goes smoothly on big day
Christmas morning can be a hectic whirlwind, with fifty things happening all around you at once while you silently seethe about the fact you've got a whole Christmas dinner to cook and, once again, you've done no prep to make your life easier.
One mum shared the "survival kit" that she uses every year to make the morning of December 25 a little bit easier. Susie Lake posted the kit on TikTok, captioning the video: "Christmas morning is always so hectic. This is my favourite mum hack for Christmas morning! I love preparing a survival kit to have ready to go while we open gifts!"
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In the short clip, she filmed herself adding each of the different bits into the caddy she'd chosen, and in the caption she explained everything that she'd popped in. She said: "Screwdrivers, scissors, a box cutter, batteries, a notebook for writing down who gave the girls gifts to thank later, an envelope in case we get money or gift cards, trash bags, zip locks for any small piece, an external battery for phone, and the girls’ camera."
In the comments, people praised the mum as "very smart", saying that it was a "good idea" to keep yourself so organised on Christmas morning. Some made further suggestions about how she could make her morning even more organised, with one penning: "We use laundry baskets to sort bags, bows, and tissue paper that can be reused too!"
Someone else shared: "Take a big box and wrap it (empty, leave top open). Use it as a pretty trash can! No one will ever know...until it overflows."
It's important at Christmas to focus on the people closest to you and to take things at a manageable pace. It's very easy for adults and children alike to become overwhelmed, so do what suits you.
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Taking to Reddit, one mum even recommended that parents put less pressure on themselves by 'doing less'. She wrote: "My personal opinion on this is DO LESS. Christmas is such a great time for my kids. They love the Christmas specials on TV. They get excited about all the special stuff at church.
"Of course, the presents are coming, and this year, it was about the presents they wanted to give to their friends and strangers. They like the lights, trees, cookies, and all that comes along with Christmas, but that doesn't mean I need the biggest tree and the best lights or need to cook the most cookies.
"Compared with others, we do minimal decorating and few activities at home. Always be mindful too of what you teach your child. Everything you do at Christmas (and anytime) teaches your child something. Be mindful if you are teaching them that Christmas is stressful and has to be packed full of things and activities.
"One day, they may feel the need to make Christmas as grand as mum and dad did. And if that's stressful for you, you may be putting that stress on their future selves."
