Toddler & Holiday Season

I originally set out to write about Christmas wonders — the magic of the season, the slower days, and the precious family time spent together. And yes, there was magic. There were twinkling lights, cuddles, laughter, and moments that will stay with us. But as the days unfolded, something else quietly took centre stage.

What became impossible to ignore was how quickly the rules, limits, and structure we had carefully followed with our little one throughout the year seemed to disappear during the holidays. Boundaries around sugar, screen time, and daily rhythms blurred almost overnight. In their place came an uncontrollable demand for chocolate, endless TV, and behaviours that were… less than lovely. Funny in hindsight, exhausting in the moment. 🤣

It was a gentle but important reminder that toddlers don’t stop needing routine just because it’s Christmas. In fact, the more stimulating and unpredictable the environment becomes — big gatherings, cousins, late nights — the more their little nervous systems rely on familiar rhythms to feel safe and regulated. The chaos wasn’t a failure of parenting; it was a signal.

What this calls for isn’t abandoning limits altogether, but creating a different set of rules for the holiday period. A softer, more flexible framework that allows our little one to fully enjoy the season — the treats, the play, the time with cousins and extended family — while still holding onto key anchors like sleep, meals, and wind-down rituals. Routine doesn’t remove joy; it makes joy possible.

And despite all of this, the Christmas wonders were very real. There was incredible food, endless laughter, and games that stretched late into the night. We went to bed after carefully leaving out carrots, cookies, and milk, and woke up to a stack of presents that felt truly magical. And yet, in true toddler fashion, it was the chocolate gifts — not the toys — that stole her heart 😂. Maybe that’s the real magic of Christmas: not perfection or picture-perfect moments, but the joy, the chaos, and the memories we’ll smile about for years to come ❤️