Where is your family heading for the holidays?  Your family’s house? To your husband’s side? Maybe you are hosting everyone at your house this year.  Whatever your plans are, I hope they were discussed and negotiated earlier than a few days before the holiday hit!  Last-minute plans usually end up in a fight. At least they did for us.

 

I wish I could say Jon and I always had our family holiday plans figured out months in advance.  I also wish I could say that we always agreed on them, but that would be a big fat lie. For many years of our marriage, things around the holidays caused a lot of stress and chaos in our families and between us as a couple. 

 

This episode is dedicated to walking you through navigating the holidays and preventing conflict…. as much as possible anyways :) 

On Today’s Episode We Discuss:

 

• The delicate balancing act of trying to please everyone during the holidays 
• How to avoid setting up false expectations 
• Setting expectations and boundaries  with your family 
• Feeling the stress of trying to please everyone and keep certain schedules
• The importance of the “core family” and why they should come first 
• Setting false and vague expectations to avoid conflict and how it can backfire
• Following the rule that each spouse handles the conversation with their own parents.  I always say “your parents, your problem. My parents, my problem” 
• Questions you should be asking each other when planning your holidays 
• Jon and I chat about what expectations we have for each other during the holiday season 

 

I pray you and your families have a wonderful Thanksgiving together….whereever you end up! I hope this episode helps set you up for a successful Christmas season as well.  

 

Remember that Jon and I love hearing from you.  Let us know where you are heading for the holidays! I would love to hear how you tackle the holidays as a couple.  Do you visit extended family or do you stay home with your core? Would you love me to cover something on a future episode? Reach out to me on Instagram @theamywine and let me know! 

 

See you here again next week.  Until then, Happy Thanksgiving! 

 

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