Oh. What. Fun.

Claire Clauster spends the year planning the perfect Christmas for her husband Nick and their three kids. She coordinates gifts, meals, and traditions, hoping to earn approval and a sense of being seen. The year of preparation foreshadows the family tensions to come.

The Clauster home fills with guests as Channing brings her husband Doug and twins Lucy and Ben, while Taylor brings DJ Sweatpants. Sammy remains morose after Mae-Bell dumps him, highlighting the contrasting moods of the family. The house hums with activity and strain.

Claire hints that she wants to be nominated for Best Holiday Mom, dreaming of an all-expenses-paid trip to meet her idol Zazzy Tims. She craves recognition from her family and the chance to shine on a national stage. The contest becomes a catalyst for Claire's more dramatic choices.

During a shopping trip with Channing, Claire quips about new traditions but becomes intent on outdoing Jeanne Wang-Wasserman's gift. Channing admits she wants to form new Christmas traditions, which unsettles Claire. In a impulsive moment, Claire pockets a large candle and escapes a crowd of mall cops.

Claire briefly goes to the Wang-Wassermans' home, but the family forgets to bring her to a Christmas-themed dance show. Feeling unappreciated, she spins off on the road and drives away. The moment marks Claire's disconnection from the family she hopes to impress with perfect holidays.

Hours later, Claire stays in a motel and shares a room with delivery driver Morgan. She buys a beat-up 1976 AMC Pacer from the motel owner, envisioning a cross-country drive to gatecrash Zazzy Tims' Holiday Mom contest. The motel becomes the launching point for her reckless plan.

Back home, Christmas Eve dinner erupts into arguments as the siblings quarrel about their paths. Doug reveals Taylor brought a female friend over earlier, and DJ Sweatpants admits discomfort with Taylor's dating history before leaving. Tensions flare as the family spirals toward disappointment.

Sammy heads to a local bar and runs into Lizzie, one of Jeanne Wang-Wasserman's daughters, reigniting a potential romance amid the holiday chaos. The meeting adds a glimmer of hope for Sammy while the rest of the family wrestles with their choices. The night deepens the rift and the potential for change.

The Clausters go next door to collect Sammy, only to find Claire live on Zazzy Tims' show. She blurts out that she invited herself because her family did not appreciate her, a candid moment that goes viral. Zazzy responds with warmth and a fresh perspective on mothers' feelings of being underappreciated.

The next morning, Zazzy arranges for the Clausters to reunite with Claire on her show. Off-camera, Claire and her children reconcile, but Sammy rejects Mae-Bell as they drift toward separate futures. The public reunion mirrors a private one, setting up a hopeful turn.

One year later, the Clausters and the Wang-Wassermans go on a ski trip together. Sammy and Lizzie are dating, Taylor is with Serena, and Claire relaxes in a barrel-shaped hot tub as dinner is prepared. The trip marks a softened family dynamic and a festive aftermath to the chaotic year.