Hi Reader,

Rooted Reflections

In case you missed my recent reel… I have some big news.

Not the kind that changes the world. The kind that shows how much my world has changed.

This year, I sent Christmas cards to my family. Bought them. Wrote them. Addressed, stamped, and posted them.

You might smile at that. I know how small it sounds. And I also know how huge it is.

When life has been heavy for a long time, it’s easy to miss the quiet markers that tell us we’re healing. Slowing down this year helped me see them everywhere.

If you’re new here, a little context. In 2021, I had a breakdown. Not the tidy kind that ends with a few weeks off and a motivational comeback. The kind that meant six months away, a year of work accommodations, a career break, and a complete life overhaul.

For the last four Christmases, that reality showed up clearly. I did the bare minimum. A few gifts for the kids and a couple of close friends. That was all I had. And it was enough.

So what’s different now. And (more importantly), why might this matter to you?

This year, I’ve actually enjoyed the small bits of Christmas prep. That’s new. I’ve taken things one job at a time, spread them out, and stayed within what I can realistically hold.

Things have still gone wrong, of course.

A parcel disappeared into a compost bin and was never seen again. Another gift was left outside and destroyed by rain. The cat broke an ornament. I dropped half a tub of pre-workout powder across the kitchen worktop. I even forgot my child’s Christmas fayre.

Last year, any one of those could have tipped me over the edge. This year? They’re stories I’m laughing about.

I’m more tolerant. More flexible. More present.

I’m genuinely enjoying Elf on the Shelf. I’m excited to make plans with friends. I’ve bought a couple of new family games because adding joy feels possible - not pressured.

I’m sharing this to invite you to reflect on the capacity you actually have this Christmas.

A parent offering magical experiences from a place of exhaustion is no match for a parent offering simple moments from within their capacity.

For four years, I didn’t do any of this. And this year, I’m enjoying the planning because it fits inside my nervous system. That’s the difference.

If you want to reflect, try journaling with these prompts:

• How does my body feel when I think about Christmas.... expansive or contracted?
• If it feels contracted, what specifically feels like too much?
• What could I let go of, ask for help with, or do differently?
• What would make even one part of Christmas feel more fun?

Maybe that’s wrapping presents with a friend. Maybe it’s saying no to visitors until the 28th. Maybe it’s asking someone else to bring dessert.

The best Christmas isn’t the fanciest one. It’s the one that keeps you operating within your capacity.

And if you’d like to explore capacity-based parenting more deeply, I talk about it in this podcast episode.​

There is nothing wrong with you if Christmas feels like a lot.
Capacity can grow - and it does - when it’s met with care rather than pressure.

Sending you all my love this Christmas and excited for what's coming in 2026. It's going to be great.

Love

Fiona

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