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I love the Holidays. I love cooking all the food at Thanksgiving, decorating the house for Christmas, singing Christmas carols, and enjoying this special time of the year with my wife and kids. I love it all. November and December are my favorite months of the year. 

For some couples, this is the best time of the year. For other couples, the Holidays present a list of things to fight over. Which family do we spend the Holidays with? How much can we afford to spend on Christmas? How can we fit every recital, work party, and family activity into an already busy schedule? The Holiday season can also be an extreme culture clash between a couple. Each spouse had their family traditions growing up, and merging those can be complicated.

Sounds overwhelming, doesn't it? 

The reality is, the Holiday season presents opportunities to come together as a couple or exasperate an already strained relationship. The key is not just to hope things work out this year. No, we have to take intentional steps to make this Holiday season the best one ever.

One of the best ways to be intentional about this Holiday season is by sitting down and communicating with our spouse. We have to make sure we are on the same page to not set ourselves up for failure. Here are just a few of the many things you and your spouse need to discuss so you are on the same page.

  • What is the family budget for presents?
  • How do we handle the holidays with extended family?
  • Which party, event, or activity can we attend?
  • What family traditions do we want to bring from our childhood and pass them down to our children?

One of the keys to avoiding conflict in marriage is to stay ahead of things that can cause friction. Communicating in advance on issues can remove any areas of assumptions or misunderstandings and set us up for success. It is worth the effort, though. Finding peace during this season can bring your marriage closer together and make memories that will last a lifetime. 

Check out video on other ways you can de-stress Christmas.