What Parents Go Through Just to Survive Winter Break With Kids Is Epic

Every parent deserves a pat on the back after making it through the holidays. But just because you survive the chaos surrounding them doesn't mean that you're in the clear. That's because another stress-inducing time period immediately follows: Winter break. And it always starts the same — almost like childbirth, we don't remember how painful it was last year having the kids home from school. You trick yourself into even looking forward to this "break" as a way to recover from a hectic season and as a time to make some family memories. As amazing as that sounds, reality will quickly sink in, and you'll spend just as much time counting down until this time is over as you did anticipating its start. Check out the stages parents go through when their kids are on the loose!