subject: How To Prevent Common Holiday Fights [print this page] Fighting between family members and partners is as commonplace as going out to eat. Everyone does it, though some more frequently than others. But one thing's for certain, partners tend to argue more during the holiday season. Though this may seem counterintuitive since its supposed to be a season of love, caring, and giving, the stress of the holidays causes people to turn on those closest to them, meaning that their partner usually ends up on the bad end of their stress. Though fighting during the holidays is common for couples, that doesnt have to be the norm for you and your partner.
Getting time off from work and getting a chance to spend it with the ones you love is a blessing, but if you dont do the little things ahead of time to prevent arguments, those days off can quickly turn into a nightmare. If you really want to spend quality time with your partner showing them how much you love and care for them this holiday, rather than argue with them about what to bring to your in-laws for dinner, then check out some of these preventative measures you can take.
The Dinner Dilemma - Everyone wants to eat exactly what they want these days and the holidays make this an especially difficult task. From food allergens to picky personal preferences, it seems like everyone attending your holiday gathering needs something a little different to eat. The fights arise when one person doesnt get what they want. Your partner may always have turkey at their family holiday gathering, but you prefer to make ham. In this case, you may need to compromise by serving them on opposite holidays (or years) or finding a way to have both. Either way, decide on this well in advance of the holiday to ensure no arguments arise during the actual festivities, which would heighten everyones stress level.
Different Traditions - Growing up you always spend Christmas at your grandmas house, but now that you are with your partner they want to spend the holiday at their parents house. What are you to do? In most cases this would lead to an argument about whose tradition was more important, but ask yourself why you are so adamant about doing it your way. Is it because you dont want to change or can you truly not live without spending that specific time with your family? If its the former, you can come to a compromise well in advance. If its the latter, you may need to work out a plan for the years holidays well in advance to make sure you see everyone equally.
If you follow these argument prevention methods then youll be on your way to having a happy and stress-free holiday. Spending time with loved ones is a privilege that some people dont get, so if you have a partner then you should make sure you use that time to best of your ability. Take the time to tell them how much you love them and show them how much you care about them by doing little things everyday that help prevent fights between one another.
