A mum’s handbook to December in the UAE
December in the UAE is a special kind of fever dream. Everywhere else in the world, mums are trudging through snow, drinking mulled wine to stay warm, and shouting “WHERE IS YOUR OTHER GLOVE?” into the abyss.
Meanwhile, we’re in leggings, sunglasses, and SPF 50, speed-walking through Yas Mall with a toddler who’s melting faster than the chocolate coins in your handbag.
And yet… this month still manages to be the most emotionally loaded season of the year for mums in Abu Dhabi.
School concerts. Festive brunches. Class parties. “Secret Santa” extortion schemes. Matching pyjamas someone convinced you were essential. Elf on the Shelf (the surveillance doll that refuses to die). Family visiting. Work deadlines. Out-of-office guilt. And let’s not forget the pressure to “create magical memories” while your kids behave like tiny, glitter-covered tyrants.
Welcome to December in the Emirates.
Where a mum’s mental load is heavier than a Carrefour trolley on Christmas Eve.
So let’s break it down. And yes — we’re doing this the Eklektik Mama way: rebellious, quirky, honest, and deeply allergic to the typical Pinterest-mum nonsense.
THE WEATHER IS PERFECT — YOUR SANITY IS NOT
Searches skyrocket for things to do with kids in Abu Dhabi in December, Christmas events for babies, and family-friendly activities UAE.
Translation: every mother is looking for an escape route.
The good news? Winter in Abu Dhabi is genuinely dreamy. Park days, beach mornings, outdoor events where you don’t risk spontaneous combustion… chef’s kiss.
The bad news? The moment the temperature drops below 30, the entire city goes feral. Everywhere is packed. Every mum is tired. And every child is overstimulated by the promise of presents.
This is your gentle reminder:
You don’t have to do all the things.
You don’t have to attend every festive market.
You don’t have to bake organic reindeer biscuits that nobody eats.
Here at Eklektik Mama, we believe December should come with one collective rule for mums:
If it doesn’t bring you joy or at least an acceptable excuse to be out of the house alone, skip it.
THE ABU DHABI DECEMBER CHECKLIST (THE REAL ONE)
Not the “cosy winter bucket list” floating around on Instagram — the real UAE mum edition.
One school concert that makes you cry because the kids are adorable and because you’ve been awake since 4am.
At least two WhatsApp groups spiralling about teacher gifts.
One festive brunch where your child eats bread rolls and air.
A mall meltdown (yours or theirs).
A moral debate over Elf on the Shelf: “Do we participate in this nonsense or reclaim our freedom?”
A desperate Google:
Things to do with babies in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
A moment where you realise you’ve spent 400 dirhams on wrapping paper.
One mum friend telling you she’s skipping Christmas entirely this year and you consider defecting to her side.
See? It’s all normal. You’re not broken. December is just rude.
THE EKLEKTIK MAMA TAKE — REWRITE THE RULES
This month, we’re choosing rebellion. Soft rebellion. Mum rebellion. The kind that doesn’t burn your life down but does restore your will to live.
Here’s what that looks like:
1. You are allowed a ‘bare minimum Christmas’.
No pressure to produce magic from thin air. No forced traditions. No elf acrobatics.
Your kids will remember how they felt — not whether the gingerbread house stayed upright (it won’t).
2. Delegate like a CEO.
Family in town? Assign tasks.
Partner doing nothing? Not anymore.
Kids old enough to walk? Fantastic — now they can carry things.
3. Pick one thing to do as a mum treat.
A BYOBaby® breakfast, a yoga session, a solo beach walk, anything that reminds you you’re a human being with needs.
Yes, even in December.
4. Choose connection over perfection.
The UAE is full of mums away from home, piecing together their own version of Christmas.
Find them. Meet them. Sit with them. Laugh with them.
Motherhood gets infinitely easier when you’re not trying to be a one-woman holiday production team.
WHY EKLEKTIK MAMA EXISTS IN DECEMBER
Because this month tries to squeeze mums dry — and we’re not having it.
We’re here for the women who refuse to drown in tinsel.
For the mums choosing sanity over chaos.
For the ones who want real mum friends, real conversations, real connection — not the curated façade.
Every Wednesday, we host BYOBaby® gatherings across Abu Dhabi designed to give you what December refuses to:
space, support, humour, rest, and the kind of friendships that carry you into the new year with less emotional baggage.
If you’re a mum in Abu Dhabi searching for:
mum-friendly events
supportive mum communities
things to do with babies
new mum meetups
ways to survive the festive season
or simply… your people
You’re in the right place.
YOUR PERMISSION SLIP FOR DECEMBER
You don’t have to be the magic.
You don’t have to perform motherhood.
You don’t have to keep up with the cliches.
You get to write your own version of December in the UAE — one that fits your energy, your family, your boundaries, your real life.
And if you want company while you do it…
We’ll be right here, raising hell and humans - Wednesday after Wednesday.
