The holidays can be an incredibly stressful time for parents, so I’ve turned to parenting expert Sue Groner for some tips and tricks for dealing with family-related holiday stress.

It’s late on Christmas Eve. You’re bleary-eyed, devoid of cheer, and still not done wrapping presents. Every time the wind blows, you’re on high alert like a reindeer caught in the headlights. Was that a footstep? Are the kids still asleep? Wasn’t there an extra roll of tape around here somewhere?!

As your thoughts drift to tomorrow, your spirits are raised a bit. You think of the excited looks on your kids’ faces as they unwrap their gifts. A halo of bedhead encircles them and their eyes are wide and full of incredible joy. Your heart just might burst.

Then you consider what will happen when sugar is added to their already excited little bodies. And what will happen when this mixture is then combined with judgy relatives just waiting to help improve your parenting skills.

Does this rollercoaster sound familiar?

The holidays can be a bitch. With all the warm, happy, holly jolly feelings, there is also a definite side of stress. Whether money is tight, there’s family drama, or your kids have reached a point of overstimulation you’re just not sure they’ll come back from, it can be difficult to know just how to deal.

Since I’m no expert, I decided to pick the brain of Sue Groner, founder of The Parenting Mentor and author of the new book Parenting: 101 Ways to Rock Your World.