The Mom Guide to Surviving Holiday School EventsBy K & O of KO

By K & O of KO Unscripted

Ah, holiday school events. They sneak up on us the way glitter sneaks into every corner of the house this time of year—suddenly everywhere, impossible to avoid, and just a little overwhelming.

From Halloween parades and Thanksgiving “feasts” to classroom gift swaps and holiday performances, it feels like every week between October and December comes with another sign-up sheet, spirit day, or “quick reminder” email from the teacher. And moms? We’re out here juggling it all with a smile that sometimes looks suspiciously like a grimace.

But don’t worry—we’ve got you. Here’s your survival guide for making it through the holiday school season without losing your sanity (or forgetting the juice boxes).

🎃 Step 1: Accept That Spirit Days Are Out to Get You

“Dress like a scarecrow!” “Pajama day!” “Wear red and green on Tuesday!”We love a good themed day… in theory. But if you’re like us, these announcements always show up approximately 8 hours before the event, leaving you digging through the laundry pile at 10 p.m. to find a red shirt that kind of still fits.

Pro tip: Keep a small stash of “holiday neutral” clothes on hand—think: red t-shirt, black leggings, and anything sparkly. It’ll get you through 80% of the spirit days without tears.

🦃 Step 2: Potlucks Are Not a Competition

There’s always that mom who shows up with homemade pumpkin cheesecake bars and a cheese platter shaped like a turkey. God bless her. But the rest of us? We’re bringing chips, juice pouches, or yes—even store-bought cookies with the plastic lid still on.

Reminder: Your child is not judging you by the quality of your potluck dish. They’re just thrilled there are sprinkles.

🎄 Step 3: Don’t Stress the Performance Perfect Pic

Every holiday season ends with a school performance: kids in itchy costumes, singing off-key, waving like maniacs when they see you in the audience. You’re going to try to get the perfect photo or video, but guess what? Someone’s head will block your shot. The lighting will be terrible. Your kid will probably forget the words. And none of that matters.

Reality check: That blurry video where your kid is just swaying with the class? That’s the memory that’ll make you laugh-cry ten years from now.

🎁 Step 4: Teacher Gifts Don’t Have to Be Pinterest-Worthy

The holidays are peak “Pinterest guilt” season, especially when it comes to teacher gifts. But you know what teachers actually want? Gift cards. A heartfelt note from your kid. Maybe some coffee. No one is framing your DIY mason jar snow globe.

Save yourself the stress: Starbucks gift card + handwritten card = winning.

❄️ Step 5: Laugh at the Chaos

At some point, you’ll forget a sign-up, miss a deadline, or send your kid in Halloween socks for “Christmas sock day.” And it’s fine. The kids will survive, and so will you. Half the fun of these holiday events is swapping stories with the other moms about how you almost forgot the class party or had to DoorDash cupcakes to the school office.

The KO Truth

Holiday school events aren’t about perfection—they’re about presence. Your kids don’t care if you brought Pinterest-worthy snacks or store-bought sugar cookies. They don’t care if their costume was homemade or Amazon Prime’d at midnight. What they’ll remember is that you showed up, cheered them on, and laughed through the chaos together.

So, grab your coffee, set 47 reminders in your phone, and let’s survive this season one school party at a time. Because moms? We’re the real MVPs of holiday magic.

xo,

K & O

KO Unscripted 🎄✨