A blog by Colleen Noll

Hey Parents,

The holidays are coming…and so is the beautiful chaos that travels with them. Welcome to a special Holiday Series of the MSOSV Laugh Track!

For the months of November and December, we’re setting aside our regular topics and diving into the real-life moments that make the season both magical and slightly overwhelming.

Because let’s be honest: between school closing for two full weeks, relatives arriving with opinions, toddlers on airplanes, and the pressure to make everything “perfect,” December can feel like a full-contact sport. After raising four kids through many holiday seasons (hello MPO6!), I’ve learned that the families who enjoy this time most are the ones who lower the pressure, lean into laughter, and create simple traditions that actually fit their real life.

This short Holiday Series is here to help you do exactly that; with honesty, humor, and zero judgment.

Here’s what we’ll cover these next couple months:

1. Surviving Winter Break (when school is closed for two whole weeks!) – Practical, light-hearted ways to get through the long stretch without losing your mind; or relying only on screens.
2. Oh Dear, the Relatives Are Here! – Navigating family visits, differing opinions, and keeping the peace while still protecting your own parenting choices.
3. Plane Travel with a 2-Year-Old! What? – Real talk and real strategies for surviving air travel with a toddler (because “entertainment” takes on a whole new meaning at 30,000 feet).
4. Creating Your Own Family Traditions: MPO6 Holiday Traditions – How we built simple, meaningful traditions that stuck, and how you can create ones that feel right for your family.
5. Sharing the Gift of Giving with Your Child – Shifting the focus from “What am I getting?” to the joy of giving, in ways that even young children can understand and enjoy.

These posts are meant to feel like a warm cup of coffee (or hot chocolate) in the middle of a busy season; practical, encouraging, and full of permission to keep things simple.

You don’t have to create a Pinterest-perfect holiday.

You just have to get through it with as much connection and as little stress as possible…and maybe even enjoy a few moments along the way.

Ready to laugh your way through November and December with us?

Let’s do this.

With holiday cheer, realistic expectations, and plenty of deep breaths,

Colleen Noll

MSOSV Founder, MPO6 mom, and official believer that the best holiday memories are usually the imperfect ones.

First up: Surviving Winter Break! See you soon.