The holidays are supposed to feel magical… but for moms, they can feel overwhelming. This week on Just 4 Moms, Megan, Caitlin, and Charlotte share honest stories about holiday burnout, the pressure to get everything “just right,” and what it takes to shift into a healthier, calmer mindset.

We open with a Chat about Christmas shopping for ourselves, what we put on our wishlists, and why moms so often end up just buying the things they need on their own.

Mom Fails are very on-brand this week—
• Caitlin gets caught again throwing away Arbor’s school papers
• Charlotte’s kids still can’t use silverware properly (and where does all the silverware go?!)
• Megan has been driving around with donations in her trunk far too long

Then we move into this week’s topic:
✨ The pressure moms feel to create “holiday magic”
✨ Letting go of perfection so you can actually enjoy the season
✨ Recognizing your limits (you cannot do it all!)
✨ The self-care + boundary setting that makes a real difference
✨ Giving your kids a “good day” instead of chasing the perfect holiday
✨ Rewriting the narrative around what matters

Finally, we close with Pits & Peaks:
• Megan’s Pit: Dragging Nico to a Christmas event when he wasn’t having it
• Caitlin’s Peak: Watching a squirrel happily munch the rotting pumpkin on her deck
• Charlotte’s Peak: The pure joy of having a lawn crew clean up her leaves (a true mom luxury!)

This episode brings comfort, clarity, and a little comic relief as we navigate the season together.

As the holidays get closer and the gift lists get longer, the moms are diving into one of the biggest questions of the season: How do we balance giving our kids the things they want… while still teaching them gratitude?

In this episode, we talk about the four A’s of gratitude (Awareness, Acknowledgment, Appreciation, and Action), how they actually show up in real mom life, and what we’re each doing differently with gifts this year. From cutting back on the clutter to simplifying Santa, from sibling gift strategies to experience-based giving — we’re sharing what’s working, what’s not, and what we wish our families understood.

But first, we kick things off with:
✨ Chat: What would our ideal Christmas decoration be? (The answers… very on brand.)
🤦‍♀️ Mom Fails: ancient snacks, missing tennis balls, and questionable bed sheet timelines. It’s chaotic. It’s honest. It’s perfect.
🎁 Topic Deep-Dive: Navigating holiday gifting without losing our minds — or raising ungrateful little gremlins.
🌄 Pits & Peaks: Sleepovers, sentimental hunts, clean rooms, and a new burst of tween motivation.

Whether you’re drowning in Amazon boxes, rethinking Santa’s role, or trying to teach your kids that gratitude is more than saying “thanks,” this episode will make you laugh, nod your head, and maybe rethink your holiday approach.

In Episode 36 of Just 4 Moms, Caitlin, Kallie, Charlotte, and Megan are talking gratitude — the real, messy, motherhood kind. Sure, we’re thankful for our families, health, and homes... but what about the things we didn’t expect to be grateful for? The late-night wake-ups, the endless carpool loops, and yes — even the chaos.

From hilarious mom fails (like Halloween candy glued to a toddler’s chest or leaving full carts of online shopping behind) to deep reflections on finding joy in imperfection, this episode explores both sides of gratitude: the pretty and the not-so-pretty.

Inspired by the concept of “Blamesgiving” and the reminder that we don’t always have to feel thankful for everything, the moms open up about the weird, specific, and sometimes frustrating things that still manage to make life rich and real.

Whether you’re cooking dinner, hiding in your closet for five minutes of peace, or driving to yet another practice, this one’s for the moms who know there’s beauty in the chaos.