About Sales Director
Jenn Price does not proclaim to be an expert on dating…but her years of practice (and willingness to share stories) will certainly get people talking. Join in the dialogue each week as Jenn tackles matters of the heart.
The holidays can be a stressful time in relationships. Between visiting your significant other’s family and your own (especially with divorced parents in the mix), tidings of comfort and joy can easily become complicated and strained.
My parents split when I was in my twenties. By the time they had separated, Santa had stopped leaving us presents in the middle of the night, so we didn’t have double the gifts to look forward to — just double the visits (and turkey dinners).
Now, add in a significant other and a couple hundred kilometres between each set of parents. The holidays can easily become over-scheduled and chaotic. For the most part, I love getting together with family. There’s something really special about family time, and the unspoken bond that binds you all together.
I’ve watched my step-sister juggle family get-togethers for years. Most of the time, she’s accompanied by her boyfriend and her dog. Sometimes, she comes with just her dog and other times, by herself.
As she says, someone is always disappointed. The stress of trying to accommodate everyone’s schedules can get overwhelming, and isn’t that the opposite of what the season is all about?
I have another friend who has set up her business with her guy so that they can be away for six weeks every winter (and always over the holidays). People can go visit them in their sunny destination of choice each year if they choose to.
This year, I’m going to go with the flow and hold off on making commitments as long as I can. Wherever I end up, I promise myself that I’ll be fully present and enjoy the moments. Even if some visits end up being short, they will be sweet.
How do you handle holiday scheduling?