Why Holiday Traditions Matter (Even When You’re Not Doing It All)

The holidays come with a lot of invisible weight.

The pressure to make everything magical. The desire to give kids meaningful memories. The matching pajamas, the crafts, the activities, the baking, the photos… all layered on top of normal life, parenting, work, and everything else you’re carrying.

If you're already feeling stretched thin, I want to offer you a deep breath and a gentle reminder:

Kids don’t remember perfect holidays. They remember how the holidays felt.

Today, let’s talk about why that truth matters, and why it might be exactly what your heart needs heading into this season.

Kids Remember the Feeling, Not the Production

One of the most grounding pieces of childhood memory science is this:

Kids encode emotion, not execution.

That means they hold onto:

• the smell of cookies in the oven

• the glow of lights in the living room

• the sound of their favorite holiday song

• the warmth of a hug

• the safety of being near someone who loves them

• the moment you slowed down and were simply with them

  
  

They don’t remember whether the craft was Pinterest-worthy. They don’t remember if dinner was homemade or last-minute takeout. They definitely don’t remember whether you checked off the entire “holiday bucket list.”

Children don’t store perfection. They store warmth.

And that truth alone can take a huge weight off your shoulders.

Listen to the Full Episode

Want the full conversation with even more encouragement? You can listen to the podcast episode here:

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