The holidays have a funny way of turning ordinary family life into a social circus – doors swinging open, unfamiliar faces drifting in, relatives materializing from thin air, and your kids suddenly orbiting a much larger universe than usual. And while the season is stuffed with glitter and good intentions, it’s also a time when a parent’s awareness needs to be sharper than the tree topper that mysteriously tries to impale you every year. Because expanded exposure means expanded opportunity – for connection, yes, but unfortunately also for boundary-crossers who blend in with the festive crowd a little too easily.
This is the season to lean into your intuition, that quiet internal alarm that whispers, “Something’s off,” even while someone is complimenting your casserole. If a person is too clingy with your child, too eager to whisk them away to another room, or just giving you the kind of vibe that makes your spine do a polite shiver – trust that. You don’t owe anyone access to your child simply because they share DNA or showed up with a pie. The holidays may run on nostalgia, but your protective instincts aren’t up for negotiation.
And then there’s the digital side of things – phones snapping photos, group chats lighting up, relatives livestreaming Christmas morning like they’re hosting a talk show. This is prime time to guard your child’s privacy with the ferocity of a mother whose kid is one candy cane away from a meltdown. You’re allowed to say, “No photos,” “No posting,” or “Please don’t tag my child to your 2,000 closest acquaintances.” Keeping things contained isn’t being difficult – it’s being diligent.
Travel only turns the dial up further. Airports, malls, holiday events – they’re buzzing with distraction, which makes it the perfect time for children to slip out of sight or for opportunistic people to slip into it. Keeping eyes up, staying physically close, knowing exits, and resisting the urge to multitask yourself into oblivion are small habits that make a massive difference. You are your child’s ultimate security system – beautifully intuitive, ridiculously overqualified, and wonderfully alert when it matters most.
So, enjoy the magic – yes, even the chaos, even the casseroles of mysterious origin – but keep that awareness switched on. Holiday safety isn’t about fear; it’s about embracing your role as the quiet, steady guardian of your child’s world while everything else twirls in festive overdrive. The season may sparkle, but you are the one keeping the shadows at bay. ❦

About the Author

Olivia Arnauts is a U.S. Army veteran turned entrepreneur. From decoding enemy communications to decoding the future of security, this former US Army Signals Intelligence Analyst now co-leads a cutting-edge protective intelligence firm. With an eagle-eye for data and a knack for spotting threats before they appear, Olivia Arnauts is all about turning raw intel into real-world

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