Surviving Christmas Without Losing Your Joy (or Your Marriage) // 15

Surviving Christmas Without Losing Your Joy (or Your Marriage)

If Christmas feels more like pressure than peace, this episode is for you. In this honest Christmas Eve conversation, Elyse (Australia) and Michelle (USA) talk about expectations, stress, family dynamics, and how Christian mums can survive the holidays without losing their joy—or snapping at the people they love most. Drawing from Colossians 3:17, they gently reframe Christmas as an opportunity to live, serve, and love as representatives of Jesus, not performers of perfection.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why Christmas Day itself isn’t stressful—but expectations are

• The pressure cooker of family dynamics, travel, and mental load

• Doing everything “as a representative of the Lord” (Colossians 3:17)

• Letting go of Pinterest pressure and unrealistic standards

• How simplifying traditions protects your joy and your marriage

• Practical ways to care for yourself during the holidays

3 key takeaways

• Christmas isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. Expectations create stress; grace creates peace.

• Your attitude matters as much as your actions. Even small moments reflect who (and what) we’re living for.

• Simplifying isn’t failure—it’s wisdom. Especially for mums carrying the mental load.

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Contact Elyse – @wholesomemumma Michelle – @itsmemichellecastro Email – [e-mail]