Aaah, the magic of the holiday season: the lights, the music, the gifts\u2026the family drama. One of the things that couples sign up for (though they don\u2019t think about it at the time) is negotiating the issues with not just your own clan, but your partner\u2019s at a complicated time of year. Holidays bring back lots of lovely memories, but they can also call up hidden issues. Then there are the traditions and expectations that you each bring to the relationship. Here are some smart tips for couples to help survive the holidays \u2013 and ensure that the season stays peaceful, joyous and (most importantly) free of conflicts.<\/p>\n
If you suspect that your family will have an issue with the fact that you haven\u2019t started a family yet, or that your partner is from a different faith, let them know ahead of time that these discussions are out of bounds. Send a group e-mail to the closest family members (and perhaps enlist help from a sympathetic relation to enforce it).<\/p>\n
Despite your best efforts at being on \u201cgood behavior,\u201d there will always be relatives who overstep. If your sister-in-law has your lawyer husband cornered in the kitchen with demands for free legal advice, have a signal arranged ahead of time. Text each other with a sign that someone needs to be rescued \u2013 stat!<\/em><\/p>\n Holidays are emotionally-charged in so many ways. People often overcompensate with extravagant spending or overdoing it on parties and events.<\/p>\n Couples would do well to have a talk about what they most want out of holiday: seeing friends, spending time with family, maybe having more quiet time with their partner to enjoy the lights on the tree or tacky Christmas movies on TV. When it comes to spending (a typical way of \u201covercompensating\u201d), setting a budget or a rule of only \u201cone gift\u201d can alleviate a lot of emotional stress. Bottom line: keep your holiday within some guardrails.<\/p>\n Every family wants to lay claim to you and yours. So maybe you need to split things up, visiting his family for Christmas or Hanukah one year, and her family the next. Factor in other big family gatherings like Thanksgiving, New Years or Fourth of July. Take a look at the calendar and see what you can work out to satisfy your relatives.<\/p>\n On that note, don\u2019t feel chained to the past. Starting your own traditions as a couple (or family) is a great way to break free of difficult past experiences. Reinvent your holiday by picking out things that will make you both happy. Maybe you love to hear live Christmas music in your local church. Or drive around looking at the light displays in town. Perhaps a Christmas Eve tradition of wearing pajamas and opening a single gift each makes you smile. Zeroing in on the things that give you genuine joy gives you a foundation to reset your holiday mindset.<\/p>\n Note: Show your love and appreciation for your partner with a unique piece from Birkat Elyon<\/a>. Our quality cubic zirconia jewelry sparkles, just like the holiday! Visit us<\/a> to see our impressive (affordable) selection.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Aaah, the magic of the holiday season: the lights, the music, the gifts\u2026the family drama. One of the things that couples sign up for (though they don\u2019t think about it at the time) is negotiating the issues with not just your own clan, but your partner\u2019s at a complicated time of year. Holidays bring back lots of lovely memories, but they can also call up hidden issues. Then there are…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":192,"featured_media":2252,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,7,130],"tags":[147,137,148,146,119],"yoast_head":"\nMANAGE EXPECTATIONS<\/h3>\n
SPLIT UP \u201cTHE DAYS\u201d<\/h3>\n
START YOUR OWN TRADITIONS<\/h3>\n