Holidays are stressful!!! Whether your family celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Winter Solstice, or just enjoys getting together, holiday times are joyful, stressful and at times, even extra-pounds producing. We work for weeks, even months to prepare an enjoyable time for our family. Whether we like it or not, that work comes with a set of expectations for how the get-together should unfold. Likely as not, we may all have a different set of expectations for the same event. Sharing our expectations with each other ahead of the event can often help de-escalate situations where someone is disappointed. Keeping our expectations in proportion with our family history, the time we have to spend together and everyone else’s schedules, etc. can also help us to be more realistic. If your family has had big disagreements over politics, religion, etc., in the past, then getting everyone to agree not to discuss these issues might help prevent a holiday meltdown.

Most of the time, there are no major meltdowns to contend with (unless you count the preschoolers who are up way past their bedtimes and excited for gift openings). Most of the time, we all get together to share whatever time our schedules allow, to enjoy some good food and maybe to share some gifts, that hopefully we have planned ahead to be able to afford. And, it really is true, no matter what your teenager says, that the best gift of all is just to be able to spend some quality time together.

So, let your holiday expectations be reasonable, your outlook be positive and your schedule light enough to be able to really talk to those that you love. Here’s looking forward to a Happy Healthy and Fun New Year for 2012!