Deciding Where to Spend the Holidays

As the holiday season approaches, both people in relationships and single people alike grapple with the stress of the season. Yet for married couples the challenge is twofold. It’s hard enough to find time to come home and visit your family in Bountiful, Utah for the holidays, so what do you do when there are two sets of relatives expecting a visit?

In order to avoid as much familial stress and extra marriage therapy sessions as possible, it’s best to have the “holiday talk” as early as possible.

Consider Travel Costs

If each side of the family lives nearby, you may be able to spend time with both of them. Consider family traditions, talk with your spouse and decide on the best way to split up the holidays between families.

If you have family nearby but your husband’s family lives way out in Bountiful, it might be better to spend a little extra time and money to make the trip. The holidays usually mean some time off; if you see nearby relatives frequently, the holidays can be a good time to reach out to the other side of the family.

If both sides of the family are a plane ride away, things can get tricky. Marriage therapy specialists recommend talking to your spouse about the holidays as early as possible. Discuss or write down how you both feel about the holidays, which elements of holiday celebrations are most important and what sacrifices can be made. You can always switch off years with relatives, or even spend the holidays with just the two of you.

Don’t Commit Right Away

Marriage therapy professionals recommend couples resist the urge to pick the side of the family that calls first. While it’s rude to make plans last minute, it’s much worse to have to cancel. Talk to both sides of the family, and consider having a holiday celebration at a different time if there’s a scheduling conflict.

The holiday season can be a stressful time for couples, whether they live in Bountiful or New England. Be being flexible and communicative, both you and your partner can survive the holidays unscathed.

Natalie Benoy is a relationship writer for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Swinton Counseling. Follow on Twitter.