"And that's because you had perfectly magical Christmases... without social media. It's something I'm constantly reminding myself as a mom of three. I have always been a "magical" kind of person. I love putting energy into things I care about; I love going above and beyond to make an already nice moment into something lovelier; I love being a Clark Griswold. But even I have my limits - and social media has truly made me feel inadequate as a magical parent."
"For a long time, I thought I could keep it as inspiration for holiday magic. I promised myself up and down that I was a grown-up who knew the difference between real life and a highlight reel. I was certain that I could watch a video of a woman giving her kids full Christmas trees in each of their rooms with ornaments to unwrap each day leading up to Christmas."
Childhood Christmases felt perfectly magical regardless of decor or family rituals, without social media shaping expectations. The narrator enjoys creating above-and-beyond holiday moments and identifies as a parent who loves making celebrations special. Social media began to create feelings of inadequacy and unrealistic comparison, turning inspiration into pressure rather than joy. Attempts to treat influencer content as harmless highlight reels failed because the volume and reach of the algorithm amplified extravagant displays. The narrator now blocks social media during the holidays to preserve simple, authentic family traditions and recapture the original sense of magic.
Read at Scary Mommy
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