The holidays are here, and with them comes an intense mix of joy, stress, and sky-high expectations. Why do the holidays amplify existing family conflicts and tension? And how can parents navigate that pressure without sacrificing their sanity or their peace?

Hosts Andy and Kelly bring back Molly Hughes to tackle the tough topic of managing holiday stress. Molly dives into why we feel the intense pressure to create a "picture-perfect" Christmas and offers the crucial distinction between holding onto hopes and managing expectations. Most importantly, she teaches us the Bagel Method—a simple, powerful exercise to help you identify what you can control (your self) and what you cannot (everyone else's behavior and happiness).

Episode Highlights

• [05:20] The holiday "Would You Rather" challenge: Kidz Bop vs. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.
• [05:50] Why Molly would rather have a full-blown food fight than cold shoulders and awkwardness.
• [08:00] Why the holidays intensify stress and conflict in families, and the impact of intensified grief.
• [09:00] Identifying your family's unique pressure points (like overstimulation, political sensitivity, or grief) and planning sensory breaks for them.
• [12:15] Why parents feel so invested in creating a "picture-perfect" holiday—and the reasons behind that behavior.
• [14:15] The crucial Bagel Method exercise: drawing the inner circle (what I can control) versus the outer circle (what I cannot control) and how to apply it to holiday dinner.
• [21:00] Practical, stress-reducing ideas: bringing a football for family outside time and simple gift-giving solutions.
• [32:00] The final lesson on boundaries: A boundary is about what I will do, not what I will make someone else do.
• [35:00] Why no one can break your boundary, and how following through builds integrity.

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Resources Mentioned

• Concept: The Bagel Method (attributed to Dr. John Gottman)