It’s National Mental Health month so what better time to address the upcoming holiday season.  The holidays can be a wholesome time of building memories, indulging in your favorite foods and feeling the love of your family and friends but it can also be a tumultuous time for those who don’t have family nearby, have experienced a recent loss, are in the midst of a financial struggle.  The reality is that the holidays can bring on a level of stress that may make us all in need of a mental health check but let’s discuss some thoughts on how to keep it as stress free and fulfilling as possible.

• Who wins when you blend family traditions in a new marriage?

• Family personalities influencing decisions – guilt, anger, stubbornness, passive aggressive comments from family

• Our traditions and what we have blended and why

• What has been successful

• We benefit from having in-laws and extended families that enjoy being with each other.

• Examples

• Christmas Eve

Tips for a win/win experience in blending traditions and culture

• Discuss +/- of each and determine what is important to honor each side of family and balance that against your own nuclear family

Importance of Creating Your Own traditions - From the site artofmanliness.com

• Provide Source of Identity