20 Things Every Mom Really Wants for Christmas

“Forget the fuzzy socks. Every mom deserves a Christmas gift that doesn’t look, smell, taste, or feel like responsibility.”

Hey Mama,

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The holiday season is upon us, bringing with it perfectly lit trees, jingles filled with cheer, and enough magic that will last our kids a lifetime. But for us moms, the Christmas season isn’t just a holiday. It’s an entire production filled with planning, preparing, scheduling, organizing, remembering, wrapping, and the list goes on and on. 

And because we’re so busy creating new traditions and holding everything together, we often lose sight of ourselves in the process. Between the coordinating, buying, checking, and maintaining the holly jollies for everyone else, there's barely a moment left to even think about what we might want or need.

So when someone asks, “What do you want for Christmas,” we answer simple, safe, and small. Because if we’re being honest, the real answer resides under layers of exhaustion, responsibility, and the need for some much-needed rest. No, we don’t want another candle, gift card, or robe. We don’t want blankets, small appliances, or glassware. And we certainly don’t want anything related to cooking, cleaning, or keeping our homes running more efficiently.

This year, I say we stop being timid when it comes to our Christmas list and start being honest about what we really want. Unfiltered. Unapologetic. And out loud. Because at the end of the day, the gifts we truly crave can’t be wrapped, returned, or bought during Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, or any other day that ends in “y.”

Here’s a list of what every mom wants for Christmas. Each one wrapped in simple freedoms, tied with soft moments, and topped with support that we desperately need, but rarely receive. 

1. To sleep past 6am. No, not 6:01. Not on the edge of my bed because a tiny human is taking up all the space. And not because I stayed up all night comforting said tiny human through their multiple wake ups. We want real, restorative rest.

2. A midday nap. Once upon a time, I took a 3 o’clock nap on weekends that lasted anywhere from two to three hours. And I think I speak for all moms when I say that we could benefit from a much-needed, long overdue, siesta that isn’t scheduled around our kid’s nap time.

3. A solo vacation. No diaper bags. No snacks. No planning. Just sun, silence, and doing a whole lot of nothing on purpose. 

4. Help without having to ask. Because all moms are tired of hinting, delegating, and reminding. We just need help. 

5. A house that we don’t have to clean. I’m talking laundry washed, folded, and put away. Kitchen, spotless. Toys in their proper place. Bathroom, immaculate. A piece of domestic peace in the form of a miracle. 

6. Someone else to figure out dinner—and cook it. No “What are we going to eat?” No “What should I pick up from the store?” No talking about dinner as if it’s a multiple choice question. Just dinner planned, cooked, and sitting on the table waiting for me to eat.

7. A year’s worth of beauty maintenance covered. Hair? Laid. Nails? Done. Body hair? Removed. Facial and massage? Scheduled. All pre-booked. All pre-paid for.

8. Money that’s just for her. Not for the kids. Not for bills. Not for the house. Not for odds and ends. Money that’s only for elegance, opulence, luxury, and joy.

9. A break from hearing “Mommy…” I think I speak for all moms when I say we’re tired of hearing, “Mommy, where are you,” “Mommy, can you help me,” and “MOMMMMMMMMYYYY!” Just one day of not hearing your name being called followed by a request or demand. 

10. To use the bathroom in peace. No questions. No busting through the door. No knocking. Just the opportunity to pee in peace. And of course, scroll our phones, respond to text messages, and sit down. 

11. To not have to anticipate the next need. We just need all the invisible dots to constantly and instantly connect. But by someone else of course. 

12. To not have to plan everything. From meals to holidays, to appointments, schedules, schools, outings, grocery lists, etc. Motherhood is never-ending project management, and I think it’s time someone else takes the lead on planning.

13. Someone to take care of her for once. To check on her. To tend to her needs. To support her the same way she supports everyone else. 

14. Slow mornings that belong to her. No rushed showers. No jumping out of bed at the first sound of someone crying. No planning the events of the day before the house wakes up. A morning that feels soft, easy, and peaceful.

15. A house that stays clean for longer than five minutes. Or, if not the whole house, can we at least get one room where toys don’t magically return on the floor or laundry that doesn’t multiply overnight?

16. Her pre-baby body. Listen, these kids do a number on our bodies. Leaving us trying everything short of weight loss meds and cosmetic surgery just to feel comfortable in our skin again. And after having to carry so much weight mentally and emotionally, the last thing we want is to have to carry additional physical weight too. 

17. Time to do something she genuinely enjoys. Not something productive. Not something for the family. Something that fills her cup. You know, like reading, writing, crafting, creating, anything that lights her up.

18. To be bored again. Wandering thoughts. Empty space. Mental quiet. Just pure uninterrupted boredom. 

19. A moment to feel like herself again. Not just mom. Not just the default caretaker. But a woman. A human being. Herself.

20. A real, honest-to-God break. More than five minutes. More than a quick moment between tasks. More than a solo errand. But a true break to reset the nervous system, rest, and miss her family again.

And here’s a bonus wish: Every mom needs to be reminded that she is enough and that she’s doing enough. 

Motherhood has a way of sneaking in guilt where there should be joy, and all mothers deserve reassurance without having to earn it or ask for it. She deserves to hear that she’s doing a great job even on her worst days. She deserves to hear that good enough is better than great. And she deserves to be held in softness, grace, and love for being present and not perfect. 

Mama, you deserve rest, you deserve joy, and you deserve to choose yourself without feeling bad about it or asking yourself why. And in case no one gets you anything on this list, I hope you give yourself the gift of knowing that you are a great mom, who is doing a great job, making magic happen for the ones entrusted to your care. 

With Love,

Racquel