Anyone find the Christmas run up stressful?!

[Lifestooshort1542]

DS is nearly 4 and this year is the first year he is really aware and starting to understand Christmas so he is super excited.
Generally he has been good and well behaved but this last week or so he has had a few meltdowns that he wouldn't usually have over the things that have caused them.
I think Christmas is a hard time for kids in the weeks leading upto it, everywhere we look it's all about Christmas and songs films, elf's on the shelf, and Santa etc and I've lost count with the amount of times my DD has asked how many days it is until Christmas 😂
I'm trying to remind myself to be a big more understanding these weeks before Christmas and realise he may be overwhelmed, excited etc.
Has anyone found the run up harder with kids, have they had meltdowns and how are you dealing with them?
Thanks :)

Yeh I think a lot of it is lovely but also stressful as there is a lot of pressure to 'get it right' and for your kids to really enjoy it. There seems to be more and mkre traditions to keep up with now too (xmas eve boxes etc etc and of course that bloody elf! ) I think the important thing to remember is you don't have to do it all for your child to have a good time. Mine is 33MO and we do xmas eve box and advent and she's helped us decorate the tree and we've done a couple of christmas crafts but we aren't doing the elf yet partly because I don't want to overwhelm her and partly because I cba lol. And it's important to adapt too. Eg I tried to do some cute handprint cards with mine and she jist wasn't loving it so we abandoned it. Do what works best for you and your child. You know best what they can handle. And forget that image of a 'perfect christmas' that you're being fed on social media etc. It's a bit of a lie anyway and as long as you have a lovely relaxed day and quality family time your child will be happy x