Podcast: Download
Subscribe RSS
The holidays are coming!
Does that fill you with joy? Or with dread? Or a bit of each? And how does it make your wife feel?
The holidays should be a time of friends and fun, but all too often it’s more about stress, over spending, and over eating. If you and your wife do some talking and planning now, you can make the holidays a good thing for yourselves and your children.
The two biggest holidays killers are busyness and family.
Busyness: Even those who usually keep their schedules under control are given to packing in too much for the holidays. Part of it is not wanting to miss anything. The uglier side of is feeling obligated. Learning to say no to things, and to those who try to get you to do too many things, is critical if you want to feel good about the holidays come January. Don’t let tradition dictate what you do. Ask yourself if you actually enjoy the activities you put on the calendar without even thinking about it. Even better, spend some time prioritising the things you do. Weed out what doesn’t bring blessing, and make time for things that do. And be sure to leave some margin, because you know there will be last minute opportunities.
Family: Friends and family important, but they have no right to ruin the holidays for you, your wife, or your children. Do you want your kids to look back on the holidays as a time of driving all over to see a lot of people for a short time each? Some sacrifice is appropriate here, especially for parents, but that must be balanced. If you’re attending some gathering out of guilt, something is wrong.
Bottom line: You can do the holidays, or you can let them do you. The former can be a joyful thing, the latter is not. The key to doing rather than being done is to think and plan now.
Image Credit: © Krakenimages.com | stock.adobe.com
Shop Amazon ♦ Shop to give links page
We’re donation supported Thanks for your help!
This post may contain affiliate links, see my disclosure for info.
Am I dreading the holidays? A little bit. Mostly because my second child is due the 30th. I hate winter with a,blazing passion and my first child turns 2 a week before Christmas. And I’ve been on more of less dilibitating pain for a month now. I kind of want to do holiday things but I have trouble walking. So… We’re not going to do much of anything. I’m hoping I can get some presents ordered and something small for my sons birthday.
@Alchemist – You have my prayers!