MMD BLOG


CATEGORY:

WORKING MAMA + HOLIDAYS

WORKING MOM'S GUIDE TO THE HOLIDAYS: WORK OBLIGATIONS AND PARTIES

 Modern Mommy Doc


PUBLICATION DATE:

December 6, 2021

WORKING MOM'S GUIDE TO THE HOLIDAYS: WORK OBLIGATIONS AND PARTIES

 Modern Mommy Doc

CATEGORY: WORKING MAMA + HOLIDAYS

Getting through the holidays (sanely) as a working mom is kinda like having a baby. You can’t really start preparing for the whole shebang 9 months in. Well you could, I suppose, but that’s going to lead you to a whole lotta extra stress in the midst of an already stressful situation.



Taking steps even months before the big day (or season) is going to make everything feel a lot smoother and seamless. In our final week of the Working Mom’s Guide to the Holidays, we’re jumping into how to manage aaaaall work parties and obligations that come your way during this time of year.



By now you know, I’m going to start you back at your Centered Vision and deciding what matters most to you. This is the key to any season of your life. YOU get to be the decider. YOU get to set the tone. Even when it’s things you might not be totally jazzed about doing.


There are a few things you can do to make it more enjoyable (or at least not the worst.)


Batch work to get ahead:


We know when the holidays are coming. It’s not a surprise each year. And generally, you can predict what your workload will look like this time of year if you’ve been at your job for any length of time. 


I love to look at my work stuff a quarter at a time, so next year I recommend starting In October to look at what you’ve got coming up the rest of the year. You’ll be able to see where you can batch things together to get yourself ahead and give a little bit of breathing room in your calendar. 


While I’d like to have a time machine to be able to take you back to October to get a leap on getting ahead for holiday work, that’s not happening. But it’s not too late! We’ve got 19 days till Christmas (don’t panic!) and you still have time to make some shifts.


What projects can you finish up so that you don’t have to think about them over your time off? What projects can wait until the new year to keep working on them? With those out of the way, you can add in some hours to the more pressing things that can get done now. 


Kendra Adachi
calls it her “magic question”: What can you do now that will make things easier on yourself later? What work can you do now so that you can have more time with your family without thoughts of work trying to push themselves back in? If you can make it so you don’t have to “just do a little work” on your vacation, I promise you that you’ll be so grateful you did it. 


Take an ariel view of your calendar:


Let’s talk work parties. Did you read our blog a few weeks ago about school obligations? We’re going to give this the same treatment. First, make note of any super heavy work days or weeks. Then, mark all of the non-negotiables. 


Lastly, find your magic number. This is the number of events that you can realistically take on while still enjoying yourself. Could be an extra per week or a total of 3 for the whole season. 


Now you can put these on your calendar knowing you’ve made choices that honor your already scheduled work load, your commitments that you’ve previously made (not gonna miss Nana’s 89th birthday party!), and ones that you will enjoy the most (or hate the least.)


Let it go:


Be like Elsa, and just let those puppies fly. Everything else that doesn’t fit on the calendar or isn’t located anywhere near your Centered Vision needs to take a hike. You can’t hold guilt for missing a party that truly doesn’t matter if you’re there. Or for deciding you won’t be attending the $250/plate fundraiser because you’re already on a tight budget this year. 


Remember, YOU get to decide!

Raising Body-Confident Kids Starts at the Doctor's Office!

START NOW
By Dr. Whitney December 17, 2025
About the Episode: In this episode, Dr. Whitney sits down with Dr. Jay Gargus and Dave Justus from NeuroQure to discuss the power of early clarity when it comes to autism detection and why earlier intervention can fundamentally change outcomes for childre n and families. Dr. Gargus explains the science behind early behavioral therapies and why their impact goes far beyond short-term skill-building. Research shows that early, evidence-based interventions can lead to measurable, lifelong improvements in IQ, so cial skills, independence, and educational placement, often determining whether a child can thrive in mainstream education or requires ongoing specialized support. The conversation also tackles a critical and often overlooked issue: access. Dave Justus shares the personal motivation behind NeuroQure’s work and explains why the test is being launched at cost, with installment plans and employer subsidies, while the team works toward insurance coverage. The goal is to prevent families from losing precious years waiting for answers. Together, they emphasize a hopeful message for parents: families don’t need to wait for a future “silver bullet.” We already have therapies that work and getting kids connected to them earlier can change the course of a lifetime. In this episode, we discuss: Why early autism detection leads to lifelong changes—not just short-term gains What a 17-point IQ difference actually means for education, independence, and quality of life How early intervention can shift developmental trajectories as early as 6 months The science and validation behind current autism therapies Why NeuroQure is pricing testing at cost while pursuing insurance coverage How early clarity can reduce long-term strain on families, schools, and healthcare systems This episode is a powerful reminder that timing matters and that early access to answers can make an extraordinary difference for children and the families who love them. About Our Guest: Dr. Jay Gargus, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized expert in neurodevelopmental disorders, with decades of experience researching the biological underpinnings of autism. His work has focused on translating well-established science into meaningful, real-world interventions that can improve lifelong outcomes for children. Dr. Gargus emphasizes that early, evidence-based therapies are already available—and that connecting families to them sooner can fundamentally change developmental trajectories. Dave Justus is a parent and the founder of NeuroQure, whose work is driven by personal experience navigating delayed autism diagnosis and intervention. Motivated by the belief that early clarity can spare families years of uncertainty, Dave is focused on expanding access to early testing through cost-based pricing and ongoing efforts to secure insurance coverage. His mission is simple but powerful: ensure families don’t have to wait for answers that could change everything. Want to Start Raising Body-Confident Kids Today? 📘 Order the Book Order your copy of My One-of-a-Kind Body 👉 www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books 🎁 Claim Your Free Bonus When you order on our site, you’ll also get access to a FREE video mini-course with five bite-sized lessons for parents. In just 25 minutes, you’ll walk away with: Simple, script-style ways to respond when your kid says, “I hate my thighs” How to talk about health without weight talk What to do when your own inner critic shows up How to interrupt diet culture at home The first step to raising a body-confident kid, even if you didn’t grow up as one 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. Leave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
By Dr. Whitney November 13, 2025
Stop being so busy, and start being more present.
By Dr. Whitney November 5, 2025
Starting out right with solids doesn't have to be so scary.
By Dr. Whitney October 29, 2025
What if YOU are the one who needs to calm down first?

Welcome! Get the information you need to win at parenting without losing yourself.

LEARN MORE

My Kids' Book on Body Confidence is Finally Here!


Wish your partner would do more to lessen your mental load?


Want to make self-care a priority but not sure how to?


SIGN UP FOR SUSTAINABLE SELF-CARE. IT'S FREE. CLICK HERE



FRESH

ON THE PODCAST


By Dr. Whitney December 17, 2025
About the Episode: In this episode, Dr. Whitney sits down with Dr. Jay Gargus and Dave Justus from NeuroQure to discuss the power of early clarity when it comes to autism detection and why earlier intervention can fundamentally change outcomes for childre n and families. Dr. Gargus explains the science behind early behavioral therapies and why their impact goes far beyond short-term skill-building. Research shows that early, evidence-based interventions can lead to measurable, lifelong improvements in IQ, so cial skills, independence, and educational placement, often determining whether a child can thrive in mainstream education or requires ongoing specialized support. The conversation also tackles a critical and often overlooked issue: access. Dave Justus shares the personal motivation behind NeuroQure’s work and explains why the test is being launched at cost, with installment plans and employer subsidies, while the team works toward insurance coverage. The goal is to prevent families from losing precious years waiting for answers. Together, they emphasize a hopeful message for parents: families don’t need to wait for a future “silver bullet.” We already have therapies that work and getting kids connected to them earlier can change the course of a lifetime. In this episode, we discuss: Why early autism detection leads to lifelong changes—not just short-term gains What a 17-point IQ difference actually means for education, independence, and quality of life How early intervention can shift developmental trajectories as early as 6 months The science and validation behind current autism therapies Why NeuroQure is pricing testing at cost while pursuing insurance coverage How early clarity can reduce long-term strain on families, schools, and healthcare systems This episode is a powerful reminder that timing matters and that early access to answers can make an extraordinary difference for children and the families who love them. About Our Guest: Dr. Jay Gargus, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized expert in neurodevelopmental disorders, with decades of experience researching the biological underpinnings of autism. His work has focused on translating well-established science into meaningful, real-world interventions that can improve lifelong outcomes for children. Dr. Gargus emphasizes that early, evidence-based therapies are already available—and that connecting families to them sooner can fundamentally change developmental trajectories. Dave Justus is a parent and the founder of NeuroQure, whose work is driven by personal experience navigating delayed autism diagnosis and intervention. Motivated by the belief that early clarity can spare families years of uncertainty, Dave is focused on expanding access to early testing through cost-based pricing and ongoing efforts to secure insurance coverage. His mission is simple but powerful: ensure families don’t have to wait for answers that could change everything. Want to Start Raising Body-Confident Kids Today? 📘 Order the Book Order your copy of My One-of-a-Kind Body 👉 www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books 🎁 Claim Your Free Bonus When you order on our site, you’ll also get access to a FREE video mini-course with five bite-sized lessons for parents. In just 25 minutes, you’ll walk away with: Simple, script-style ways to respond when your kid says, “I hate my thighs” How to talk about health without weight talk What to do when your own inner critic shows up How to interrupt diet culture at home The first step to raising a body-confident kid, even if you didn’t grow up as one 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. Leave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
By Dr. Whitney November 13, 2025
Stop being so busy, and start being more present.