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IT’S THE MOST CLUTTERED TIME OF THE YEAR: HOW TO HAVE A CHRISTMAS SEASON THAT DOESN’T ADD JUST ADD MORE STUFF

 Modern Mommy Doc


PUBLICATION DATE:

December 19, 2022

IT’S THE MOST CLUTTERED TIME OF THE YEAR: HOW TO HAVE A CHRISTMAS SEASON THAT DOESN’T ADD JUST ADD MORE STUFF

 Modern Mommy Doc

CATEGORY: ORGANIZATION

Dec 25th: Beautifully decorated tree with wrapped presents beneath, just begging to be opened.


Dec 26th: Wrapping paper everywhere. Boxes everywhere. All the tiny pieces to all the toys everywhere. Mom’s sanity? Can't be found.


I’ve heard from a looooot of moms lately that one of their least favorite days of the year is December 26th. All of the anticipation of Christmas is gone. The magic has vanished till next year. Kids have been up early and to bed late for several days. They’re on sugar rushes and stimulation overloads.


Pure chaos.


Plus, there’s stuff EVERYWHERE.


No one is in the mood to clean up, so there’s dishes left from all the meals. 


I’m usually desperately trying to straddle the line of letting my kids relax and play with their new stuff and also making piles of everyone’s presents so they can take them and put them away in their rooms (while I remind them all that “away” doesn’t mean on the floor every 5 minutes.)


Christmases like this leave me feeling depleted and entirely stressed out. I hate asking my kids to stop what they’re doing and help me put the house back together. But I also hate heading back to work while my house still feels like a wreck at the end of the week, which is what usually happens. 


And all of it centers around clutter. Too much visual noise in my home. I know I don’t function at my highest like this. And you don’t either (it’s actually science, I promise!)


But how do you still have the magic of Christmas (which usually involves some sort of gift giving) without bringing in SO MUCH STUFF?


I asked
Shira Gill, a globally recognized author and organizing expert, that same thing. Her answer was really practical (which you know I love!). 


She said, “The holidays leading up to the new year are a great opportunity to clear some space, reset, and start fresh. Consider setting aside a few hours to do a sweep of your home so you can declutter and reset your space”


Essentially, before you bring a bunch of new things in, clear out the old! When we don’t, that’s how the clutter becomes exhausting and unmanageable.


But what about kids? It’s their stuff that’s usually the problem (at least that’s what we tell ourselves). Shira says, “[This time before Christmas is] also a prime opportunity to help your kids make decisions about which clothes, books, toys, and games they have outgrown. If you are met with resistance you can remind them that they'll be receiving exciting new things for the holidays and need to create space to store them.”


If you don’t think you’ll have time before the holidays, I’ve heard of a lot of families doing a great clean out the day AFTER Christmas and instituting a 1 in, 2 out rule. For every one new thing you got, we’re going to give away two.


So how do you manage the actual gift giving if you don’t want to bring in a bunch of clutter? 


First, find out what’s on the top of your kids’ lists. If they tell you 10 things that they want and you pick and choose, you might not be hitting those faves for them. And that means they’re less likely to get played with later, which leads to more clutter.


Second, be ready with specifics when it comes to aunts and uncles and grandparents who want to buy for your kids. If they’re left to their own devices, they’re more likely to buy things that a) won’t get played with longer than a week or b) have 8,795 pieces that will make you lose your ish. Amazon wish lists can be your best friend.


Third, remember that you’re the parent. Yes, Christmas is a joyous and magical time. But even if the number one thing my kid wants for Christmas is noisy, messy, and not going to be worth the money, that’s a hard pass from me. You know your kids better than they know themselves, so even if they SAY they will play with the lifesize Sven from Frozen doll, you know better. It’s just gonna become a clutter magnet.


Your home can be peaceful this Christmas (and the days after). It can actually feel like a place you can relax in. But it’s going to take intentional work on your part in order to make space (literally and figuratively) for what really matters.


Grab Shira’s clutter-free gift guide
here.

Read her blog about how to deal with unwanted gifts here.

Raising Body-Confident Kids Starts at the Doctor's Office!

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About the Episode: In this episode of the Modern Mommy Doc Podcast, Dr. Whitney sits down with Miyaeva Renae—full-time creator, business owner, and intentional mom—to talk about the real side of new motherhood. Miyaeva opens up about the anxiety and overwhelm she faced after having her son, Stetson, and the rituals that helped her navigate postpartum life with more calm and self-compassion. From calling on her mom and her village for support to learning the importance of asking her fiancé for breaks, she shares how she learned to prioritize her own mental health while caring for her baby. You’ll also hear: How social media both fuels perfectionism and provides unexpected mom-to-mom support. Why ASMR and organization videos became part of her “calm the chaos” toolkit. Her honest take on breastfeeding, weaning, and the bittersweet milestones of a first year. The behind-the-scenes of life as a creator—and why she’s shifting from picture-perfect posts to more authentic, supportive content for moms. The story behind her new clothing line, Every September, created to fill the gap for boy moms who want neutral, stylish mommy-and-me outfits. This conversation is equal parts refreshing and relatable—a reminder that no mom has it all together, and that sometimes the best gift we can give ourselves is permission to be real. Key Takeaways: Motherhood isn’t perfect—and that’s okay. Miyaeva shares how postpartum anxiety pushed her to let go of perfection and focus more on the present moment with her son. Support systems matter. Leaning on her mom, best friend, and fiancé helped her find calm during stressful moments. Self-care can be simple. From eye masks to slippers to a warm shower, Miyaeva shows that little rituals make a big difference in mental health. Authenticity over perfection. Social media can amplify pressure, but it can also create powerful connections when moms are honest about the highs and lows. New ventures come from lived experience. Her clothing line, Every September, was born from her own frustration as a boy mom looking for stylish, neutral mommy-and-me outfits. About Our Guest Miyaeva Renae is a full-time digital creator, entrepreneur, and mom to her one-year-old son, Stetson. Known for her organizing hacks, “day in the life” videos, and calming ASMR routines, she has built a supportive online community of moms who value honesty and relatability over perfection.  Beyond content creation, Miyaeva is the founder of Every September, a clothing brand designed to make mommy-and-me matching accessible and stylish—especially for boy moms. She’s passionate about helping moms feel seen, supported, and less alone in the messy, beautiful reality of parenthood. ✨ Follow Miyaeva: TikTok & YouTube: @miyaevrenae Instagram: @miyaeva Clothing Line: everyseptember.co Want to Start Raising Body-Confident Kids Today? 📘 Pre-order the Book Order your copy of My One-of-a-Kind Body before it launches on October 20, 2025. 👉 www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books 🎁 Claim Your Free Bonus When you pre-order, you’ll also get access to a FREE video mini-course with five bite-sized lessons for parents. In just 25 minutes, you’ll walk away with: Simple, script-style ways to respond when your kid says, “I hate my thighs” How to talk about health without weight talk What to do when your own inner critic shows up How to interrupt diet culture at home The first step to raising a body-confident kid—even if you didn’t grow up as one 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. Leave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
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