If the thought of being around your family this Christmas makes you feel a mix of excitement… and mild dread, you’re in the right place. For many mothers, Christmas isn’t hard because of the cooking, wrapping or logistics—it’s hard because of the people. The comments, the expectations, the old patterns and the familiar triggers that somehow resurface the moment you walk through the door. In the final of our December pep talks, Zoe shares practical tools to help you stay calm, grounded and drama-free when the family dynamics get intense In this pep talk, Zoe covers: How to stay grounded when family dynamics and old triggers show up What you can control (and what you can’t) when tensions rise Simple, kind ways to set boundaries and protect your energy Practical tools to prepare for tricky moments and avoid drama You are not imagining it—family dynamics at Christmas really can be tough.But with a few simple tools, you can protect your energy, stay grounded and enjoy the moments that truly matter. Have an amazing Christmas, and make sure to tune in on the 25th… there’s something special coming your way. Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Ready to feel like yourself again? Download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Get 40% off a Calm premium subscription at calm.com/motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices