Why Your Kids Will Remember the Imperfect Christmases Most

Why Your Kids Will Remember the Imperfect Christmases Most

As moms, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to create a magical, picture-perfect holiday. The matching pajamas. The Pinterest-worthy decorations. The home-cooked meals that somehow appear without stress or mess. But if we asked our kids what they remember most about Christmas, we might be surprised by the answer.

This week on The CPA MOMS Podcast, Nicole invited a few very honest guests, her kids and their friends, to talk about Christmas traditions, favorite foods, and funny memories. What came through loud and clear? Kids don’t need perfection. They remember the moments, not the manicured.

The Mess Is the Magic

In the episode, the kids recalled jumping on beds to wake up their parents, opening unexpected gifts, and eating a questionable amount of sugar. None of these memories came from carefully planned moments. They came from the joy of spontaneity, the silliness of tradition, and the freedom to just be themselves.

As moms, we often worry that we didn’t bake enough cookies or that the tree didn’t turn out quite right. But our kids? They’re just excited to decorate it with us. Even if the ornaments are clumped on one branch or the lights are tangled, what they’ll remember is being together, laughing, creating, and maybe even getting frosting all over the floor.

It's Not About the Stuff

Of course, presents are part of the fun, but the kids talked just as much about their family traditions, reading the Bible before opening gifts, having a special breakfast, or decorating the tree in their own quirky way. These things don’t cost a lot. They just require time, presence, and maybe a bit of letting go.

When you think back to your own childhood holidays, do you remember the exact gifts you got every year? Probably not. But you might remember the smell of your favorite dish, the way your mom let you put up decorations wherever you wanted, or the chaos of all the cousins running around.

When Things Go "Wrong," Memories Go Right

The funniest stories in the podcast weren’t about perfect moments. They were about tripping while waking up mom, stepping on dad’s face (accidentally), or opening a gift and getting something completely unexpected. These are the kinds of stories that become family legends. Not because they were perfect, but because they were real.

So if the lasagna gets burned, the tree falls over, or someone forgets the matching pajamas this year, take a breath. You’re not ruining Christmas. You’re creating a memory that might just be someone’s favorite.

Give Yourself Permission

Your kids are watching you, not for your perfection, but for your presence. They’re learning how to celebrate, how to be flexible, how to laugh when things go off track. This is the heart of what we believe at CPA MOMS. Your success, especially during the holidays, isn’t about having it all together. It’s about showing up with love, intention, and a little grace for yourself.

Let this be the year you stop striving for the “perfect” Christmas and embrace the perfectly imperfect one your kids will remember forever.

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