Christmas time is one of the most beautiful times of the year, but if you’re not careful it could easily turn from beautiful to stressful in a blink of an eye. Here are a number of common questions we’ve heard over the holidays:
Why can Christmastime be challenging for individuals and families?
While the holidays are a time for cheer and celebration, they can also be stressful. The additional responsibilities that the holidays bring can stress a family’s already time-starved schedule.
How can we develop more realistic expectations for the holidays?
At times we expect the holidays to be perfect. Aiming for this perfection is a surefire way to turn holiday joy into holiday angst. Instead, focus on the the core of what’s important during the holidays–like spending time with those you love.
Please offer a few tips regarding developing healthy boundaries within families and how that can make for a smoother season together.
Family has a way of pushing our boundaries to their breaking point. During the holidays, it’s important to find a balance between being generous and flexible, but also standing firm when family demands are too much for you to comfortably handle. I find that often loved ones who step over boundaries don’t know their doing so, so make sure that your limits are clearly known!
What would you say to a family who consistently has disagreements about how to handle the holidays (how much time do we spend together and when, how much $$ do we spend on gifts — those kinds of things)?
It’s important for families to talk through the major pragmatics of the holidays. Set a budgets for both money and time in advance, so there’s not a conflict on Christmas Eve about where you’re spending the day tomorrow, or in Toys-R-Us about how much is too much to spend this year.
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Anthony Centore
