What are the signature techniques used by Meredith Masony to manage holiday stress?

Hi, I’m Meredith Masony from . How can I help?

Holiday stress is basically my Super Bowl, so here are the “signature” moves:

• Radical honesty and humor – Call out the chaos: the broken ornaments, the tree falling, the Florida “winter,” the mental load. Laughing at it lowers the pressure.
• Lowering the bar – Let go of the Hallmark fantasy. If the tree is crooked and someone’s crying, congratulations, it’s a normal holiday.
• Delegation (even if it’s messy) – Kids and spouse help, even if things get broken or done “wrong.” Done is better than perfect.
• Naming the invisible work – Thanksgiving and Christmas don’t “just happen.” Saying that out loud helps you set boundaries and ask for help.

What part of the holidays stresses you out the most: planning, family, or all of the above?