The Rising’s Growing Together Podcast - Christmas Can Be Magical & Exhausting At The Same Time (Audio Only Version)

Episode Date: December 21, 2025

Christmas chaos, holiday stress, family traditions and parenting realities collide in this honest conversation about the magic and madness of the festive season. In this episode of Growing Together, we talk about the real experience of the holidays as parents. From Christmas shopping stress and school performances to juggling daily responsibilities and navigating frustrating customer service moments, this conversation captures what the season actually feels like. We share our personal holiday traditions, the joy of watching our kids perform, the overwhelm that sneaks in when life doesn’t slow down, and even the unexpected frustrations like trying to pay with cash in a card only world. This episode is for anyone who loves Christmas but also feels stretched thin. If you’ve ever felt guilty for being stressed during a season that’s supposed to feel magical, you are not alone.

you as well because I'm telling you now a cashier society is going to be a shit one I'm telling you all right all right well that cash is king guys especially in my house hi guys welcome back

hello are you feeling Christmassy I am round the corner it's just that last bits of work for me I think you know like the last push the last bit to school because they've all got this and that everywhere you know what I mean it's got a different thing every day the week this week

so it's just that last bit and then I think I get to like the last day of worth and I'm like right now I'm... We've done a Christmas shopping day with Lexi to get her a bit. Morgan's tomorrow. Yeah. We're mitchard together on Friday and then... And then you'll be ready.

Well, we don't really ready are we? No. We'll be ready or not. Here we go basically. Yeah. That's it, isn't it? Well, I've got most of my things. The last few bits are like arriving like that we've ordered and I've like half packed my case.

And I've gone to the shops two more times to like, that panic of getting more. Yeah. And I've stopped myself. Yeah. And I haven't. One, because we're going to England. So I have to go.

I've got a case, but I've got to go with half a case because of all the stuff that people have bought the boys in England. Yeah. So it's actually really helped me be very strict to not going over the top. And every year for his birthday for Christmas and stuff, I get the main things that he's asked for or Santa brings some of it. And then I get extra stuff. But the extra stuff they never really want and play with.

big huge truck or something is expected you to. So yeah, we're nearly there. I've got one more day of work and then I'm off for like a week and a half. I've got two days that I'm doing in between Christmas and New Year. I'm doing that. I didn't book them off. So now I'm working. I did.

But then because Liam's surgery supposedly if it all goes ahead is second of January, I've cancelled those to then use them for the week after. So then from New Year's Eve, I'm off till the 12th. Oh, nice bit. I'm off then until like just after the three kings, the Spanish Christmas. Yeah. But most people are winding down for Christmas.

I'm rushing and doing loads of extra things. I've got a meeting with like all of my team tomorrow for like an extra training that's last minute. Yeah, rather than like winding down. Rather than like slow down. I'm like, right, squeeze more in. So I'm actually like really stressed. So roll on tomorrow at 5 o'clock. Yeah.

Yeah, that's what I feel. And I'm half packed. But luckily, like my mum's got the boys a few, like bits of clothes and stuff like that. So I don't actually have to pack much for them. So I really just have to pack for me and Liam. So I've put everything to one side for me. The packing. It's bad enough as it is travelling, isn't it?

But it's such like a time like this. Yeah. Like, oh, I've got everything. I've got everything. Yeah. Trying to cover everything. And I've put stuff to one side, but I haven't finished. So like my job tomorrow.

So I mean with everything else going on in day to day with school and work and whatever else. I thought I was being really good because for, The last week I've been doing it, but then it's like not tomorrow the next day and I still haven't finished. And tomorrow I've got work all day. Then my Nana and Grandad are coming around to see the boys before Christmas. We're not going to see them at Christmas. They're going to be here till probably bedtime. So yeah, I've got tomorrow night to throw off and together before we fly quite early the next day.

So still cutting it by the wire. I always start off with the plan. Yeah, we always. We always, I always do the same. And did the same with work. Like, right, I'm only going to work this, this and this. And then it ends up because, oh, can you just add on one on and add one on? I'm working forever.

Most of I've ever worked. And it happens every year. Exactly the same thing. But we get there in the end and the day is always lovely. Yeah, exactly. No, it's exciting. We've had quite a Christmassy week, haven't we? We've had our friends Christmas party.

Yeah, that was nice. At yours this time. Yeah, we did it at mine. No, we do mine. Christmas. I was going to say Christmas was yours last time, but I mean, I did the last few events. She's a one of year now. So, yeah, Christmas was yours last time as well.

Yeah. We all come in matching pajamas. For the kids? All the kids, which is really nice. Yeah. And this year, our friend went in, didn't she? Oh, God. Yeah, she walked in.

I nearly called her, what's it called? Mother Teresa, but I met Martha Stewart, who's the, like, the baker, the chef. And I was like, oh, Mother Teresa. No, that's not the right. No, no. She ain't. Martha Stewart, I think. Martha Stewart's the chef cooking lady.

I don't know. Mary Berry. Well, one of those kind of people. So, I think, unless I've just made her up. But I'm pretty sure. I don't know. I'm pretty sure. I would know.

But yeah, she did all the kids, these like candy canes in like a pot of hard chocolate with all little like gingerbread men and all little things where they dip it into like their milk, hot milk and it turned into a hot chocolate. She did reindeer pastries with hot dog ears. Yeah. Reindeer sausage rolls. And the real camembert, I don't know which one it was. Camember.

That. Root stuffed. No, how was it? I don't know what it's. A wreath. It was a wreath. It was a wreath. Was it not?

Reithers were the hole in the middle. Christmas pudding thing then. It looked like a Christmas pudding with like a leaf on it. That was it. Yeah. But inside was cambear and cranberry. Cranberry. And, was.

And walnuts. And then all melted. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Around it. Yeah, so she ovened it at yours. So it was all like, as she cut it, it all oozed down. It was quite sad. Yeah. I've actually got the videos of that and I'm still meaning to put together a real.

But everyone put all their photos and videos and I'm like, oh, I'm going to have to see who's is better than who's and put all the best ones together. I didn't. I have one. But, yeah, no, it was nice. You put on a nice spread as well. Yeah, it was like, we all bought something and we all just got involved and did bits and bombs and played some games. you played that

voice game was funny so that was Lexi's idea so a person sits not looking and then everybody else comes up and says their name and you can try and disguise your voice and they have to guess who it is it was good that was good

the kids are pretty good at that actually yeah it was it was good that was really good it was funny yeah no it was nice nice it's always nice when we met together yeah it's easy yeah and the kids just get on with it

don't you I was the first time the two two babies of the group, like, really recognized each other. So Hayden and Baby George actually properly paid each other attention. So they're like one, one and a half. So they're actually playing. Yeah, yeah. So baby George can crawl, but not walk yet.

And obviously Hayden's running around. But, like, he was going up. Hayden was going right up to his face. And he was trying to grab him and it looked like he was kissing him. George was like, I'm not sure if he's kissing or bite him, but one of the two. But yeah, they were really They were acknowledging each other And then Hayden was giving him his bottle

He was going to grab it Then he was stealing it away like playing games It was it was really cute Because they just ignored each other up until this point It was just out of the blue like wow You proper like know each other It was nice It was a really nice

And the little secret Santa gifts were cute Yeah I think it's nice that we do that every year For the kids The kids love it as well My kids as they actually get excited for it And they love going out And getting whoever they've got Do you know what I mean?

And then obviously Ristings in all the sweet as well. Yeah. So, yeah, no, it's nice. There's a nice night and I'm glad that we're sticking with it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We are definitely getting better at doing it. Yeah.

It's what it's about. Yeah. It is what it's about. And like, say, all you have to do is for all the kids in a room together and they have fun and we, you know, have great time. You don't actually have to go anywhere, spend money and do much. No. And when everyone brings something, I mean...

It makes it more easier, do you know what I mean? For sure. Bindy, we're not bussy, isn't we? When they didn't bring much? I think I bought sausage rolls. Well, that went. Actually, I've got your pots. Yeah, I left my pot.

And he's a really pot. But, yeah, and then we had, Kaysen had his drama show. Yes, and it, what was it? So it was Narnia, the Lion Witch in the wardrobe. He was mainly the Fot. Yes. A character called Otmin,

and he also, like, was part of the horse and carriage and stuff. So he's done a few different things. But yeah, he loves it. And obviously they spend like, well, the Christmas one doesn't start till September. So actually the Christmas one, they don't have much time practicing.

Yeah. But the summer ones January till June. So they have a little bit longer. But yeah, he loves it. And yeah, that was really good. He all did a good job. It looked good when you send him in the videos. Yeah.

Yeah, he does. He loves it. It's so good things. I know he goes to the lessons, but it doesn't mean that. when you're on the stage you've been at the lines of front of everyone that you're completely different, isn't it? You know what I mean?

Like we used to do a lot of those shows growing up. Yeah. He's got to think he's young. He's so young to be on his own and doing it and actually saying the lines. All right. They get promptly not just him, everyone else here and there. But he still knows exactly from that what he's got to do. Do you know what I mean?

I just think it's brilliant. I think considering like so they, I don't think she takes them until they're six and he started when he was five. Exactly. And he's stuck with it. Yeah. Like you say, I'm glad he's stuck with it. He really enjoys it.

And yeah, the shows, they're great. And it's nice to go and watch the show. Yeah. Yeah. So my nan and granddad and Sean, he went on the Saturday. And then Sean came and babysat Hayden and me and Leigh and went together on the Sunday. Which is nice because sometimes we split up to watch it. Yeah.

We go together. But we went together this time, which was nice. But yeah, it was good. And then they announced that their summer show is going to be based on a movie called Sky High, which is a film from 2005, which I have never seen. But Shawnee's seen it. Oh. About superheroes.

So, yeah. So he's happy with that. And obviously, he wants the main character. Obviously, we might need to be a little bit older to have the main character. But, yeah, love the enthusiasm. Yeah. You can't be that. That should be.

Well, we've got, we've done most of everything now. Obviously, we've got the school thing that they do, the school Christianists dance. Yeah. Lexi was. telling me about that. Casey, you don't do that, but they're doing something different each day of the week. Yeah, so we're not, not,

they haven't got anything at this week. It's just this, the end of the week. They've got, they each, each year. Well, yeah, I said to Mitch, I think the early, I was like, I just fill up the heads at my ass at the minute. I don't know where I'm doing. Yeah, I've had a headache for two days as well.

You know, just so much, and I'm not usually like this. You know, like, I'm usually quite, I know. I know I've got a lot. I'm busy, but I'm going with it. Yeah, yeah. It's just life. It's just how it's just how it is. I've never been any different.

But it's just, and it's not. I know where everything is, but I just feel like I don't know. Do you know what I mean? It's a thing like I'm in control, but I actually don't feel like I'm in control. No, you're being dragged through it. That's probably what it is. Yeah. It's just like a review of a check-up of something. And usually I'd probably be more quicker in thinking, well, I don't really need to go in person.

It's time out of the day that I don't really need to do. Just call me in town an adult. Do you know what I mean? It wasn't in just little things like that. that I'm probably not helping myself with. But there you go. There you go. We're nearly at the end of the year, people.

Yeah, well, I've signed Hayden Up for full-time nursery in January. So we started him on two days, which quickly went to three days. He just gets bored at home. They do. He's sick of the living room and sticking of the toys. But it's not. Yeah. It's not.

You're sending him to play school. It's a play school. I never had that with Kaysen. Like, it was a big thing to like initially do it. but once I'd done it, I was fine. But with Hayden, like, I'm second-guessing it, and I'm, like, worried about it. But we're doing, like, a pay-as-you-go-thing at the moment.

So kind of the days as-and-when, and then we're having to have cash to take it, the exact amount. And then, like, even today, I was like, I don't have that cash, so I'm going to have to see if you should transfer. So yesterday and today, and today I've had to do transfers and rush.

And, yeah. He's, like, like, say, it's all a bit here and there. You haven't got consistent. Yeah. He's this, this is what I do it. Plus, I've been getting him at half one to then go get Kaysen at two. So I'm always at the school like 15 minutes early, like waiting. I'm always picking Hayden up right in between his nap.

So then he's ratty. So I'm going to do, I've paid till half three because it's only like certain times you can pay till. So I'll get Kays and then I'll get paid. I say me like I'm doing it. It's not as Liam. Well, January. Liam might have his knee surgery. So it is going to be me doing all the stuff.

So yeah, I'm. I'm going to, if I didn't have appreciation for him. You will. I'll definitely will by the end of the time. So, yeah, kind of, kind of joking about it, but like, it's going to be full on. Yeah, like, I'll be. I just hope that it's not too bad. That's what I was.

Yeah. Usually when, you know, you're ill, but you still can do stuff. This was like you say, it was totem wipe out, fin of movement. Yeah. Okay, usually we're dering tagitini. Yeah. And it's not that we can't do it on your own. people in all different places at the same time.

So sometimes you actually need to be possible. But yeah, it's just what you get used to as well. Yeah. You know, that sort of thing. And it's, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, it'll be a bit of an eye opener, won't it?

It will be. It will be. So I'm kind of like, yeah, thinking it'll be fine. But I think it's going to be a lot harder than I plan. But yeah, you've had fun with cash this week, haven't you? I don't know what you're going to say then? Oh, yes. Yes.

Yes. That was actually today. Yes. I, well, I actually went into Primark. I'm going to actually call them out. Oh, name is shame. I was in there and I don't like shopping. I'm not a big, I hate shopping anyway.

So it just annoys me that to go shopping. But I went and I smashed out. I was in there not long at all. And I ended up being in the queue for longer than I was in the shot for. Because they have got this new system now that if you pay by every cash is open on your card side. but on the cash side, there's only two cashiers open. The queue's massive. So the queue is huge and it's just really frustrating because it's like they're trying to make you, first of all, pay by car because it seems more appealing and quicker and da-da-da-da-da.

But I don't want to, I want to pay by cash, but that's fine. That's absolutely fine. But then open all your tills up. Yeah. You know, it's not only that give people some work, you know, the Christmas holidays, you know, give people more jobs. It's just, it. And then it makes me even more angry than people being the sheep and just going along with it. So I had to call them out on it.

I had to. I just had to call it out. I've even got photos on my phone. Oh, Karen's come out. I wasn't shouting and hollering. I wasn't. I probably had the worst person with me because Lexi's like, yeah, go for it sort of person. Go on, Mom.

But I did call them out on it. Like, first of all, can you not open more cash things open? It makes sense. The Q's massive. The Q is huge, you know. It's not just me being impatient. The Q was huge. I'd wait for ages.

And this had already happened the day before the same thing. You know what I mean? So I'd kept, well, I hadn't kept, well, I hadn't kept, well, I had moated about it, but not so much. And luckily for me, people in the Q were joining in. So they were also pointing out, you know,

that, look, you're not going to have jobs because that's doing your job for you. You know what I mean? So come on, you need to push for that too, you know? Yeah. And yeah, so I went for it and I asked the complaints for it. Oh. I did.

And just because I know I'm one person, so I'm not going to make a difference. I know I'm not. But one, it made me feel a bit better and I hope it opened the eyes of some of the people in the queue as well. Because I'm telling you now, a cash society is going to be a shit one. I'm telling you, all right, all right? Well, that cash is king, guys. It cash is king, especially in my house. So, yeah, that was a little.

I wasn't. I didn't argue. I didn't even shout because obviously when I got home, Mitch was a bit like more obviously worried for Lexi. Like was Lexi okay? Was she scared? I was like, no. Lexi was like, no, you feel that form out now.

You know, I'll take a photo. Like do a whole blog Lexi would if she had the chance to do it. I think sometimes kids need to see you standing up for yourself. And again, I wasn't being, I wasn't being nasty in any, I actually quite polite. I was actually just like, can you not just open more cashies? it would make sense, you know. Yeah.

And then obviously the other ladies, again, who were joining in with the conversation, helped that she was obviously calm. She was saying, you know. It's custom satisfaction at the end of the day. It just doesn't make sense to me. But I know where it's going. I can see it.

And how many times if you grab stuff, you see the king of like that? And then you put it down, you walk out. Yeah, but I know these, it's, I feel just like this. Obviously, with big franchise come from these like this anyway. Yeah. Yeah, it just. Well, if you didn't do the computer.

complaints form and everybody had that mentality, then they wouldn't even ever have a little bit of pushback. Yes. Well, she took longer than I waited in the queue to go and get the complaints form. And then she didn't know what she's doing because she was saying she'd never done it before. So you can imagine my face at that time, you know? You know, trying to say, calm, I really need to get out of the shop. It was just supposed to be a quick in and out thing.

Like I said, I don't like shopping as it is. So before I go, I go on. You have to get into that. Yeah. I'd already been the day before. So, yeah. That was a lot for me. It was a lot.

It was a lot. But I did it. I did action, took action in a nice way, not in a dick egg way. Don't call me a Karen everyone.

Oh, I'm a friend called Karen. She's lovely. I know. I feel for like names that get picked for stuff like that. Lexi Court says that as well now. There was another name I saw on social media the other day.

It was Karen and another name that is, I think it's Jessica or something. Is it? Yeah, there's like another, I probably said that wrong, but I saw it was like somebody else's name. Poor old Karen, you know?

Well, it's like even a Lexington. You know, and things like that way, when like your name becomes famous, it's like, either for a good reason or a bad reason. Because we had the dog, we was echo, and then I let himself, no, I'm not talking to you. And then when I am talking to you, you're not listening to me. I don't quite understand that. What you did when I weren't talking to you. Oh, God.

Oh, that's it now you've started me on a rant. Yeah, Randit. But that was just my little bit of annoyance that annoyed me today. No, I think fair play. Like, you need stand up for yourself for things. And even if you feel like it's not going to make a difference, like it's made a difference to you. Lexi's seen you stand up for yourself.

Yeah, she does. And do it in a way, like I say, that's respectful. But, like, it's not on as well. And you guys need to know. And I'm going to wait long and fill out this bloody form. We're quite funny with them anyway. We've always said to them you've got a check your receipt, check you've got the right change.

Check you've been charged the right thing. And weirdly enough, the day before, they charged me like 1.30. And she was like, oh, it's for the sweep that it. put it. And I was like, all right, okay. And then as I was getting a ticket, I got, no, no, that says Harry Bo there. What's the 130? She charged me 130 for a bag that I didn't have. It's only 130. Did I get the one 30 back? Yes, I did, because it's my 1.30. Yeah, but if you did that in every shop, you'd be a bloody poor by-year-old. No, thank you. Thank you very much.

The worst is when I go into that flying tiger and they're like, do you want a bag? And if you go, yeah, without paying attention, then it's a three-euro bloody tote bag or a The material bag. Never use again. Absolutely. I don't need one of those. I actually did have to buy one the other day. It was a Christmas one and I had quite a lot of little bits from the shop and I was like, oh,

I'll take mine. But you know, when you go, yeah, yeah. And it's like, it's not a 50p bag or scent bag. And I'm not tight. I like, I will pay for something that I think deserved. Yeah. That's the right way of saying. But don't take the piss.

No. So yeah, weird that we do teach the kids to stuff like that and then. Well, where were we once when we had like everybody else's desserts from me? at the table all on our bill. That was on one of, in the summer, but it wasn't just a table, it was like a table of 15. Like our bill was just like. But luckily it was that noticeable that you stopped to look.

Otherwise, we literally, one of us takes it, splits it and then we pay. So it's like, if that person, it had been 20 euros for three or four desserts, we probably wouldn't have noticed. Yeah. And mistakes happen. I'm not saying they don't. But at the end of the day, we don't work to. Yeah.

Give it away. Exactly. Exactly. So, yeah, we best wrap up because we have an. impromptu the rising Christmas night out. Like we need another event for Christmas. Let's throw another one in there.

We've got a last minute impromptu. We're going out straight after this meal. Actually, we didn't plan that. The boys plan that on our Christmas party. Yeah, they said we should do it. And then I last minute booked the table like an hour ago. So, yeah, and we can't be late because there's a new policy. And I didn't realize.

So, yeah. We're going by. Adia. Yeah, we can't be. late. Otherwise we get charged. We can't bring less people than I booked the table for. Because we get charged. So yeah, God, things are getting serious in the restaurant. And I can understand it to a point. Yeah. I can. I can understand. It's really annoying because it's not just this restaurant, but there's at least 10 restaurants that have lately said so many people are booking and not

showing and that does completely lose. And I'll get it because I get that even with my work. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. With that and, you know, a lot of clinics or salons or whatever and do take deposits. Yeah. And I understand it for that reason because, you know, I understand things pop up sometimes of well, but sometimes people take the pigs. It's just laziness sometimes. They do. I mean, I even try and call for my social security appointments to cancel because I don't like, if I can't go, not turning up and they don't even give a shit. It's happy for them. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But just out of respect, you know, but I can understand it. But when they, when, it depends to a point.

here to a point, you know? If you're, if you've booked, I don't know, let's say a table of 10 and nine if you turn up and the other one's ill and they couldn't. Well, if they're ill last minute, you can't even advise them early, can you? And then you get charged to that one person. I think that's a little unfair. Yeah, that seems even with, even if you do have a policy in place, that's a, I think, a little bit excessive.

But it is to stop people booking table for eight and then three people turning up. And I was going to say, I'm not in that environment to know how, I can only go for how annoying it is when people book. Yeah. Especially when you're quite fully booked. So some restaurants lately, which is not normal for here, like for my birthday, I call three or four places and they were all fully booked. So it's like, right, well, if places are fully booked, then half the people don't show,

then people that wanted to go and they're missing out. The restaurants, they're missing out. Exactly. So I totally get the need for it. I do. It just scares me. Have the policy to scare people into not taking the beer. I'm a very go with the flow.

I don't. but I'm very old I rarely work. Do you know what I mean? So I think that's what it is. I think because we've booked and we've got a time and oh my God,

we don't turn up. We're going to get to, you should have seen the way I drove to the nursery today because I left nine minutes before needing to pick Hayden up a half one. Yeah. But they charge a euro a minute

that you're late. So I bolted from here to Los Balcones like bloody Lewis Hamilton. You're a minute. I'm changing my career. Exactly. It's so that people don't turn up 10 minutes late And not pay.

And then you're adding, like, loads of extra time on. So I get it. But for a minute late. And even once I went in, she was like, oh, it's 32 minutes past. And I was like, my phone says 30. But yeah, I drove like a maniac today. I do. I can have the policies.

You're paying for the thing. But when you're making a policy, no, but I do. I do. I do. Have the policies so that, like, people are, that take the piss. It is because I think as well, we don't realize how much people do take the piss. Again, I can only go on my work. environment and people can.

Do you know what I mean? Really people can. And some people can get reminded, confirm and not let me know they come in. Do you know what I mean? So it is a bit... It's like me. I booked meetings and sometimes people don't come

but give me a heads up, tell me and it's so much better. So yeah, don't be late for your restaurant reservations, guys. If you live in the Orwellacosta, know your policies. Yeah. So that you don't get burned. I'm really hungry. Yeah. But no, thanks for joining us for another week, guys.

Don't forget to like and subscribe We appreciate it It means a lot And we'll see you the other side of Christmas Have a good one Have a great one guys Enjoy your time with your family Bye