Christmas is a wonderful time of year filled with reminders of God's love for us, good food, family gatherings, gift giving, and the joy that all of this brings. However, these things also create many opportunities for arguments, stress, and hurt feelings.
Couples often have a difficult time blending their families' traditions. Families have a wide variety of traditions that are very important to everyone involved. When a couple gets married, a new family is formed and these traditions are forever affected, especially after children are born.
The struggle to honor the traditions of both sides of the family coupled with work parties, school parties, church parties, and celebrating with friends can turn this wonderful season into an exhausting marathon both physically and emotionally.
This year, don't let all of this busyness steal the joy from your Christmas! Here are some ideas to consider:
- Realize that you must put your mate and children above the expectations of everyone else
- Determine to maintain the joy of Christmas in your own heart no matter what anyone else chooses to do
- Communicate with your mate to find agreement concerning which functions to attend...there are an abundance of demands but only a limited amount of time and energy
- Communicate with your mate to determine how much you can afford to spend and plan to make it count
- Realize that as your family grows, it is impossible to please everyone so do the best you can and refuse to feel guilty for what simply can't or shouldn't be done
- Consider creating new traditions at your home that include grandparents and extended family
- Be courteous and understanding as changes are implemented...the changes associated with the passage of time can sometimes bring sadness
- Remember that you are shaping your children's Christmas memories...hectic running around trying to fulfill everyone's expectations might not create the best memories...the warmest memories of Christmas are built around time spent together valuing each other
This year, Have a Merry Christmas!
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