Holidays Before Kids vs. Holidays After Kids: A Funny Look at the Season

Children sitting at a table for the holidays.

Ah, the holidays. Once upon a time, you may have sipped hot cocoa by a

twinkling tree, spent hours curating the perfect gift wrap aesthetic, and

stayed up late binging holiday movies in peace. Then... the kids arrived.

Suddenly, the holidays look a little different (read: louder, stickier, and somehow glitter gets everywhere).

At Creative Counseling Colorado, we love helping parents find joy in

every season—even the chaotic, sleep-deprived ones. So let’s laugh about

the holiday shift together:

Decorating the House

Before Kids:

Perfectly spaced ornaments, a Pinterest-worthy wreath, and candles

glowing romantically in every window.

After Kids:

All the ornaments mysteriously clustered on the bottom two branches. That wreath? Smeared with sticky fingerprints. Candles? Replaced with

battery-powered “flameless” ones because someone thought it was fun to see how hot wax feels.

Holiday Shopping

Before Kids:

Strolling the mall with a peppermint mocha in hand, casually picking up

gifts. Bonus: buying yourself a little something because you “deserve it.”

After Kids:

One child melting down in Target, another sneaking candy canes into the

cart, and you Googling “overnight shipping Santa emergency” at 11:57 pm

on December 23rd.

Holiday Parties

Before Kids:

Dressed up, sipping champagne, mingling with friends, staying out until

midnight.

After Kids:

Wearing stretchy pants at 5 pm, negotiating how many sugar cookies your child can eat without combusting, and praying bedtime actually happens before the ball drops.

Traveling for the Holidays

Before Kids:

Packing a small carry-on with cozy sweaters, snacks, and books. Travel

feels adventurous.

After Kids:

Packing like you’re relocating internationally: toys, snacks, diapers, sound

machines, favorite stuffed animals, and enough wipes to survive the

apocalypse. “Adventurous” is keeping your toddler from pushing the flight

attendant call button 47 times.

The Magic of It All

Here’s the secret: as chaotic as holidays with kids are, they’re also magical. The squeals on Christmas morning, the wide-eyed wonder of seeing lights for the first time, and the joy of building traditions that will last a lifetime—that’s the real heart of it.

At Creative Counseling Colorado, we know holidays after kids aren’t

always picture-perfect, but they can be full of connection, laughter, and

memories you’ll treasure forever (even if those memories involve someone crying over the wrong color cup).

Holidays before kids were quiet, cozy, and Instagram-worthy. Holidays after kids? Messy, unpredictable, and somehow more meaningful than ever.

If holiday stress is overshadowing the joy for your family, Creative

Counseling Colorado is here to help. We work with parents and kids to

build confidence, communication, and connection—so you can spend less

time stressing and more time making memories (even if those memories

involve glitter in the couch cushions until February).

Simple Christmas morning with two small children