There’s no getting around it, the holidays are hectic. But Janet El Khatib has found a way to make sure it all runs smoothly — and that her kids never miss a meal. According to her son Khalid, Janet sends out an annual family email right before the holidays, which informs her children of the weeklong festivities she has planned for them.
Khalid first shared his mom’s email on December 12.
“My mom’s annual ‘home for the holidays’ email to me and my siblings just dropped,” the Iowa-born writer and marketer wrote. “An incredibly thorough, detail-rich look ahead at how it’s possible for me to gain 15 lbs in one week.”
My mom’s annual “home for the holidays” email to me and my siblings just dropped. An incredibly thorough, detail-rich look ahead at how it’s possible for me to gain 15 lbs in one week.
— Khalid El Khatib (@kmelkhat) December 12, 2022
Janet’s email lists out each day her children will be home, starting with Sunday, December 18.
Following their arrivals, she’s planned a period of “rest,” followed by Happy Joe’s Pizza for dinner.
There will also be “puffed popcorn, Chex mix, and various candies available for grazing throughout the day,” including yummy treats like jelly peans and Peanut M&Ms.
Despite the holidays, Janet noted that Monday was a workday for all and had planned a hearty dinner of homemade chili and fresh bread.
On Tuesday, she plans to mix it up a bit, and host a “summer burger night,” despite it being the middle of winter. On the menu will be burgers, fries, and salad. She’s even planning to make Ina Garten’s famed mac ’n’ cheese recipe.
Then, for dessert, it’ll be ice cream from Culvers.
Though Janet’s holiday email does include certain family activities, like “ladies manicures” at a local salon and an afternoon trip to Galena, Illinois, also known as the “Hallmark of the Midwest,” the central focus here is on food.
Some days Janet has suggested multiple ideas for restaurants, dinner options, and even fun cocktails, and asks her kids for input.
But as you make your way through the week, it’s impossible not to laugh at the sheer amount of highly detailed food planning that Janet has done in preparation.
There are taco nights, rib dinners, and even the suggestion of a group bourbon tasting. The Christmas Eve menu is apparently left up to Khalid, but just in case he needs some inspiration, Janet gladly offered a few of her own ideas.
After watching his tweet go viral, the writer noted that his mom will be “thrilled” to know her “home for the holidays” email is giving the internet such a giggle.
“I should note I cut off the part of the email where she asks if she should make a ‘butter board’ and for us to vote on homemade Snickers, blueberry, or raspberry cheesecake on Christmas,” he added.
Most can’t help but find Janet all sorts of adorable.
“‘Is there any interest in a Bourbon tasting?'” one person quoted, before declaring Khalid’s mom “a national treasure.”
“Your mom is precious and I hope I’m like her when my kids are older and coming home for the holidays!” another person tweeted. “I can only imagine how excited she is! This is my 2nd season without my mom and, seeing this, while it makes me sad, also makes me smile cause, that was so my mom!”
“Bourbon tasting? Ina’s mac and cheese? Hallmark of the Midwest? Manicures? Taco dip? How do I sign up for this week of wonder?!” one person wrote. “It almost seems redundant to wish you and your family happy holidays, but Happy Holidays!”
“What is the availability for 2024?” another person asked. “Is there a booking system/online queue? Is there a flights and accommodation package? Do you think @Ticketmaster or @Expedia could help out?”
“Does your Mom adopt random people?” one person asked.
“Dear Khalid’s Mom, I respectfully submit my application for holiday adoption,” another person wrote. “I will gladly clean the kitchen, and perhaps do laundry, for all eight days. Thank you for your consideration.”
In truth, Khalid’s entire family sounds pretty awesome. (And clearly, they know how to have fun.)
“I officially love your family!” one person wrote. “Cocktails and cheese soup and Culver’s sound amazing.”
“My family has never put this much effort into a single day this full, let alone a stretch of days like this,” someone else said. “I thought this kind of family engagement existed only in films.”
“I just want to marry into the family and will travel with my own whole set of cutlery and a plate too,” another person tweeted. “Feed me. I am ready and willing.”
Khalid later returned to share the rest of his mom’s now-infamous email.
“For those of you asking, here is the rest of the absolutely unhinged Christmas Day menu (a day in which I always slip into a food coma and then my mom yells at me for falling asleep and ‘wasting Christmas’),” he wrote.
The follow-up tweet shows the full Christmas Day menu, which continues on into the night and is basically a never-ending food parade.
For those you asking, here is the rest of the absolutely unhinged Christmas Day menu (a day in which I always slip into a food coma and then my mom yells at me for falling asleep and “wasting Christmas”).
— Khalid El Khatib (@kmelkhat) December 12, 2022
And based on some of the comments, it’s even reminding people of the kind of parent they want to be.
Making this detailed schedule for all my kids 20 years from now is truly all I have ever wanted in life. This is very much exactly exactly it.
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) December 12, 2022
“Every stage of parenthood is new and different and having not been shown good examples, I look around and take notes,” one person shared. “This right here is my new mother of adult children/grandmother at the holidays standard. I now know what to do. Thank your mom for me!”
Apparently, Janet has read most of the tweets so far and she’s feeling the love.
“I was blown away by it,” Janet recently told TODAY Parents. “All of my friends’ children who are on Twitter would contact their moms and say, ‘Is this your friend Janet?’ And they were just shocked. So it’s pretty neat.”
“I was so touched by the responses from so many of the people, and so many who have lost, say, their mother, and it just brought back so many fond memories,” she added. “I mean, at some points, I almost was moved to tears because I just felt people are looking for a happy holiday and they’re looking for a warm family time.”
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, JANET!
