How did it get to be this far into the year?

I’m not ready for it to be October yet, I’m not even ready for it to be March. Oh wait. Christmas is a pretty busy time for our family, as you could well imagine with this many children Santa needs to get his order in right about now to be ready in time.

Christmas merchandise hit the stores mid-September, just seeing those tinsel displays pop up was enough to make this mamma break out in a cold sweat. Oh God, it’s here again.

While Christmas can mean different things for many people, for me it’s more than just sentimental. It’s that time of year where jolly is my responsibility. And this mamma has to pull all the trimmings of the season, from out where the sun does not shine.

This is another one of those things they never tell you before you become a mum. Christmas = Stress, and lots of it. I have to admit; when the tinsel comes out I’m often looking for the Grinch’s cave to hide in. Christmas is a lot of work to make jolly.

Come December, mums, and hopefully dads, are responsible for the cooking, the present buying, the cards, the holiday travel plans, making sure Santa gets those last minute requests, buying your own gift (because you are apparently so good at that kind of thing, and you know what you want, and you wouldn’t want to risk getting something you’ll not like... ahem) and the decorating - because let’s face it, the tree the kids decorated looks like crap and all the trimmings are on the bottom branches, the tree has developed a substantial lean because of the weight on one side.

You will be rearranging it all after they go to bed, then spend all of December putting the decorations back on the tree, because of small ornament thieves. And all of this done with a smile on your face, because... say it with me: It’s Christmas!

While I have no ideas to get you or anyone else organised, the bright and flashing LED lights at the end of this tunnel, is that this year I remembered to do a Christmas club, and didn’t spend it beforehand!

I do however have a couple of warnings for new players in the happy family Christmas; don’t attempt to assemble a swing set on Christmas eve night after a you’ve had a few and have lost the instructions, and kids will count each other’s presents and it doesn’t matter if one present has the value of six, there will be drama if one child is not sitting in the same sized wrapping paper pile as their sibling is.

The only maths kids will do on Christmas day is counting up their booty. When all is said and done, I do love Christmas. It gives me a reason to have a tacky looking house for a month.

But most of all I love this chance to build memories with my children, and that’s why mums go through all this, with a smile on their face. Our mums did it too, for the very same reason. Right, I have 80 shopping days left, better get a wriggle on!