Volume 1, Issue 3

December, 1999

Page 2

Holiday Stress?

Families and Holidays

Why do things go O.K. for the first day or two of the holidays, but then they end up with tempers flaring up?
-the feeling of being a child again when back at home with your parents
-difficulty recognizing your own children as grown adults
-feeling isolated or alienated from your family after holiday visits

How to Handle Holiday Stress:

1. Share Work - spread the responsibility of the event around. Plan a progressive holiday dinner instead of going it  alone; let others help you with the baking and shopping.
2. Enjoy Yourself - Focus on having fun and don't focus so much on keeping a schedule of activities.
3. Be Selective - Don't over-commit yourself by accepting  invitations to more holiday events that you can realistically participate in.
4. Be Realistic - Recognize that things don't go perfectly at other times and they won't do  so just because

just because it's the holidays. Don't put the pressure on yourself or others that you have to be at your best all the time.
5. Maintain your normal routine - Try to stick to your regular diet and sleep routines.
6. Take "time-outs" to relax - Leave reminders to help you relax, a piece of red yarn on your car dash, or mirror, or other familiar spots to trigger you to take  3 deep breaths and relax!
--Information from the Christian Counseling Center, Paducah, KY

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Things To Remember
The value of time.
The success of perseverance.
The pleasure of working.
The dignity of simplicity.
The worth of character.
The obligation of duty.
The wisdom of economy.
The virtue of patience.
The improvement of talent.
The joy of originating.
The power of kindness.

--Via West Erwin bulletin,

Tyler, TX 

Page 2

Causes of Holiday Stress

-Emphasizing things over people. Our gift-buying often overshadows the more important, that is, relationships.
-Feeling responsible for making the    holidays    a perfect    success. When things don't go well, we feel guilty and resentful.
-Making "getting everything" done the major goal rather than enjoying the fun of shared activities.
-Letting "commercial pressures" create an attitude that we must buy everyone the perfect gift, even to the point of getting in debt over our heads.
-Memories of lost loved ones or of a time when holidays were better.
-Realizing we have not achieved our resolutions made during last year's holidays.
-Having unrealistic expectations. Hoping that this year "Uncle Mike" won't come to Christmas dinner drunk, or that you will get to see all your high school friends while you're in town.


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