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When your relationship is already on the rocks, the holidays don’t feel magical. They feel brittle. One sharp comment in the kitchen, one loaded question at the dinner table, and suddenly everyone is walking on eggshells just trying to “get through it.”

In this episode of Love Shack Live, Staci, Tom, and Brooke talk honestly about why the holidays hit struggling couples so hard. They unpack the collision between Hallmark expectations and real-life pressure: money stress, family dynamics, political tension, old wounds, and the silent agreements to “just make it good for the kids” and deal with the relationship later.

You’ll hear real stories from their own family table, along with the emotional patterns they see every year in their work with couples. And instead of white-knuckling your way to January, Staci shares the exact skills that help you steady yourself when things get tense:

• How to set realistic expectations so you don’t collapse under pressure
• How to slow your nervous system when you’re spinning up
• How to create tiny rituals of connection, even if you’re separated
• How to set agreements with your partner before you walk into the holiday chaos
• How to repair quickly when something goes sideways

And because so many listeners have asked what they can do right now to avoid another painful, disconnected holiday season, Staci created something special for this moment:

🎁 The Holiday Survival Bundle: a limited-release set of relationship skills for navigating the season with more calm, clarity, and connection. It includes:

✓ 3 proven skills programs

✓ The Holiday Stress Test (your personal roadmap of where tension will hit)

✓ A private mini-session with Staci (only 20 available)

If the holidays already feel heavy, or you know you don’t want to repeat last year’s patterns, this is your next best step. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier fast.

✨ Grab your Holiday Survival Bundle while the 1:1 spots are still open:

stacibartley.com/holiday-bundle

Timestamps: 

04:17 The Pressure of Expectations
06:37 The Importance of Relationship Skills
19:38 Realistic Expectations for the Holidays
21:18 The Power of Slowing Down
26:12 Communication and Emotional Regulation Skills
30:32 Understanding Emotional Motivators
34:05 Family Dynamics and Religion
34:39 The Power of Understanding
36:15 Modeling Behavior for the Next Generation
37:12 The Gift of Listening
39:00 Managing Family Interactions
39:46 Setting Realistic Expectations
42:32 Handling Difficult Conversations
44:27 Creating a Supportive Environment
46:38 Navigating Separation During Holidays
50:34 Bringing Joy to the Holidays
52:42 Introducing the Holiday Survival Bundle
56:49 Fan Mail and Practical Tips
01:00:50 Closing Thoughts and Resources