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People say that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year but for some parents, it can be one of the most overwhelming ones. Keeping up with the traditions, being afraid to spoil the truth about Santa Claus, and not giving in to your child’s every whim—that’s some tough work.

Still, parents are the magic makers and more often than not, their efforts to create that Christmas cheer can cause hilarious situations. Many moms and dads decided to share some of the funniest—and most real—stories on Twitter.

From the reality of the Elf on the Shelf to silly Christmas lists, here are some of the best tweets showing how parents are trying to keep their sanity during this holiday season. Continue scrolling and upvote your favorite ones!

We usually think of Christmas as a cozy and cheerful holiday spent with our loved ones. For a lot of people, this is the time to sip wine by the fire, reflect on the past year and enjoy tons of merry and warm moments that come along the way. However, thousands of moms and dads place too much pressure on themselves to create the perfect celebration for their kids, which can lead to burnout.

From running through the stores looking for the most-wanted toy of the year to planning dinners and thinking about how to entertain your guests during the parties, this time of the year can cause a significant amount of stress. If you ever tried to balance your everyday routine with additional holiday tasks and keep the magical holiday secrets hidden from the children, you know it’s hard.

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Andy Acceber
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope one day the OP has kids so brother can seek revenge with three note instruments and 1000 piece lego sets.

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Plus, it’s no secret that kids are demanding. As a parent who has to deal with their requests, your stress levels can get pretty high. But if you want to stay sane and enjoy this Christmas time, there are a few tips and tricks you could try. American Psychological Association suggests some healthy and long-lasting techniques parents can use to make the holiday stress a bit more manageable. 

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First, strengthening social connections can help you in handling a variety of challenges. This is the time to think about the positive people in your life, because "accepting help and support from those who care about us can help alleviate stress." Lowering your anxiety will let you keep your mind and body healthy, which in turn will help you deal with stressful situations and tackle them with a calm and clear head. 

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Foxxy (The Original)
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To this day I have not read The night before Christmas. I only know the first line from TV/movies.

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Another important piece of advice would be setting realistic expectations for holiday gifts and activities. Don’t try to tick off every single thing on your Christmas to-do list, rather identify the most important tasks and think about steps that are needed to accomplish them.

Just remember, the holiday season is actually short: "We can ask ourselves, what’s the worst thing that could happen this holiday? Our greatest fears may not happen and, if they do, we can tap our strengths and the help of others to manage them," APA explained. "There will be time after the holiday season to follow up or do more of things we’ve overlooked or did not have the time to do during the holidays."

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If you’re stressing out about what gifts to buy your kids, it’s actually not as important as spending time with them. Just try and think about your childhood memories. Of course, you can probably recall some memorable Christmas gifts you received, but I bet the memories of decorating the tree, playing in the snow, and trying to handle the construction of a gingerbread house are much brighter. 

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Chucky Cheezburger
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Damn...seen this happen in the spook house I worked in. A couple comes through and I do my thing to scare them, the giant,6 foot 6 football player guys BOLT...and their date is left standing there. Once had a woman look at me and say "That mo fo just left my a$$ for you to get...you gonna have to wait cuz Im gonna kill him first". Couldnt help but laugh.

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Foxxy (The Original)
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did something similar but instead of burning them, I donated one, returned one for a refund and gifted one to a family friend.

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Dr. David Walsh, a psychologist, educator, and author specializing in parenting and family life, said that the positive feelings of warmth, safety, or happiness are examples of "emotional memories." And they "are very powerful and very important. Just as experiences link together different connections in our brain, experiences also wire together emotional connections," he explained. 

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Andy Acceber
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hear Santa is also a fan of lotto scratchers and aromatherapy candles, soooo...

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While gifts might seem like a big deal to you right at this moment, the greatest present you can give your children is a bouquet of positive emotional memories and family rituals that they will, later on, pass to their families. "Creating family traditions, focusing on the meaning of the season, and carving out time for reflection can help buffer stress and provide a foundation for memories that last a lifetime," Dr. Walsh said. 

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Ray Martin
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even as an atheist, I still like it when people buy me things. It's the thing that binds us all together.

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Jennifer McNeely
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He can play with my toddler, ever since they had me switch him to soymilk, he has more gas then a gas station..

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Let’s be real, even though it’s hard to find the balance between being generous and standing up to our kids’ every demand, we still want them to have a good time. There’s always some struggle behind creating that Christmas magic and it’s really good to see that more and more parents are keeping it real and sharing their hilariously honest stories online to help others unwind.

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Lovin' Life
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lmao. Reminds me of the lady who was told her friends husband passed and she sent "lol" back in response. She thought it meant lots of love.

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Andy Acceber
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, kids almost always scream when opening their presents anyway... *maniacal laughter*

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Andy Acceber
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Clearly, you have a little performer in the making. I hope you get him involved in theater or creative writing classes!

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Vicky Zar
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why not just talk to the kid and tell them honestly, openly and LOVINGLY that Mom/ Dad have not enough money, but they would help them getting the money for it instead of this passive aggressive act?

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Serial pacifist
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Santa has some bad*ss surveillance technology nowadays. He might start using drones too.

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Foxxy (The Original)
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am CONSTANTLY trying to teach my son about not expecting gifts, being grateful and not to ask for something every time we go to the shops but it's bloody hard. I try to show him with our behaviours but unfortunately with his speech delays and poor memory he doesn't quite understand. Any tips lol.

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DUN DUN
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A 7 yo said this? Edit: I will assume yes after reading all the comments below :)

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I I
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

we do it so when it does get picked up NO TOY PASRTS are picked up with it ( looking at you kids ) so we dont have to go through 2 trash bags of wrapping paper looking for Batman's cape

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Geri Olive
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can relate, although I don't have kids, I have a dog and my sis got us matching Christmas jumpers.

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DUN DUN
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let them grow up and realize that on their own. And when they do, tell them to pass this knowledge to their children.

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Kathy Davis
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol. A few days before Christmas I just accept my defeat and start drinking.

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