It’s the most wonderful time of the year, right? I hate to break it to all of you, but for moms, it’s actually the most stressful. We’ve all been through it — tía Lucía doesn’t want to come to dinner unless she can bring her new beau, your husband’s cousin is being dramatic about her friends … we can go on and on. Which is why I’ve developed a fail-proof method over these past years that includes lots of coordination, focus, and a whole lot of streaming and technology. Check out some of the ways I keep from going cray during las fiestas.
1. First and foremost: You need a command center.
In our house, this means a big calendar, a magnetic bulletin board, and lots of patience. As soon as there’s an event planned or a practice scheduled, it’s on the command center. Ours is pretty basic, but you can make it as complex as necessary for the size and craziness level of your own family.
2. Clear your kitchen—and everywhere else in your house that needs some decluttering!
A clearer home means less stress. It may not be spring cleaning time, but as you’re putting away those Halloween decorations, it’s a great time to purge and go through all the stored holiday décor. That includes finally letting go of the Niño Dios and the other ailing figurines in your nativity set (you can replace them with some sleeker pesebre decor next year!) and throwing out some of those dollar store seasonal items that just can’t make it through another day. In the kitchen, make sure you recycle plastic containers and cups that take up cabinet space. And trash anything you haven’t used in more than one year. Be ruthless. All the cabinet space will be well worth it.
3. Let the TV be your ally when trying to entertain your family.
Finding TV shows, movies, music that please everyone is not an easy task. That’s why I’m thankful for Verizon home internet. With myHome, you have a one-stop shop for internet, entertainment, and connected home offerings. Choose content from top streaming perks for just $10 a month per perk. You can get Netflix and Max (with ads) for only $10, Disney Bundle (which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+) for $10, YouTube Premium and Walmart+ membership with an included Paramount+ subscription for $10—talk about mega savings and simplifying your shopping needs! So you’ll have everything you need to satisfy everyone in your family—from your toddler to the older abuelos and tíos.
What’s even sweeter? When switching to myHome, get an Xbox bundle that includes accessories or a console. Or get one year of our exclusive Netflix and Max (with ads) streaming bundle, on us.
Best of all, Verizon home internet customers know that their fast, reliable home internet coverage is essential for all-day movie marathons or watching fútbol when your favorite team is playing. All this and guaranteed pricing for up to four years, no hidden fees, and no equipment charges makes myHome this mamá’s best ally when it comes to offering choice, flexibility, value, and, most of all, simplicity for my family.
4. Prep as much as you can ahead of time.
Trust me on this one. If you’re hosting the family’s Noche Buena dinner, make sure you plan to make whatever you can cook ahead of time and reserve it to whip out on the day of. The arroz con gandules can be made a few days before December 24; the candied yams can be prepped and ready to go; and on the day of, you can just pop your seasoned pernil in the oven. You’ll be the reina you truly are without breaking a sweat.
5. Make a list to help you keep track of gifting.
I’m a big spreadsheet fanatic. This one in particular starts taking shape around November. I list all the people in my family for whom we plan to buy gifts, then I fill in what we think we can give them, an approximate dollar amount per gift, and where to possibly buy it. Seeing the plan in front of me helps me save money since I can plan an approximate budget, but also saves me time since I can buy gifts online at the same retailer if need be.
I’ve already put new phones for my kids on their list, and no, they won’t break the bank, thanks to Verizon’s Guaranteed Trade-In program. Sofi and Seby’s old iPhones have seen better days, and I can trade in their beloved but destroyed phones and get brand new iPhones 16 Pros. And huge bonus? With this Trade-In program, I’ll get an Apple Watch Series 10 and a 10th Generation iPad, all on Verizon. That’s a gift win-win!
6. Make sure you keep in constant communication with the family.
Keep everyone abreast of plans, last-minute changes, anything having to do with family celebrations and get-togethers during the holidays. Since switching over to Verizon and taking advantage of myPlan, my family is more connected than ever. And this holiday season, when you switch to Verizon, you can get four lines for the price of three. Which means you, your husband, kids, and even the kids’ abuelos can be included in one plan and you’ll be paying $30 per line for four lines. And travel plans don’t have to mess up your communication—you can get three days of TravelPass for $10 a month when you add it to myPlan, which means even if las fiestas take you overseas, you can still be connected.
Verizon’s myHome and myPlan have been invaluable allies when it comes to keeping us all connected and entertained throughout the holidays—from Thanksgiving all the way through Noche Buena through New Year’s and beyond, we’ll be well connected year round!
