How To Split The Holidays With Family

The holidays can be the best of times, but they can also be stressful times. Many married couples will stress over the question of how to split the holidays with family.

If you’ve been questioning how to compromise on family holidays, you’re not alone. If you’ve dreaded telling your family how you will split the holidays, take comfort in knowing that you’re not alone.

Compromise to Find the Best Way to Split Family Holidays

For many couples the holidays represent logistical challenges. When couples have kids, the challenges grow even bigger. A healthy relationship will honor both partners needs and desires when it comes to dividing up time among the holidays.

3 Ways to Split the Holidays with Family

1. Host Both Sides of the Family

One way to avoid having to split family time is to host all of your family at your house. This will obviously involve a whole different stress when it comes to planning, hosting, shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc, for any number of people.

If this is something you and your spouse would enjoy, make sure you talk about the division of labor in your house. Who will shop, clean, prep, cook, etc.

If your families don’t get along, this may not be the best compromise.

2. Split the Holidays with Family by Rotating Years

If visiting multiple houses on one day does not sound very merry, or if distance makes it impossible, consider rotating holidays yearly. Thanksgiving at your family with Christmas at your spouse’s. The following year you spend Thanksgiving at your spouse’s family and Christmas is spent with your family.

Another variation of rotating years is rotating the holiday. This year you can spend Christmas Eve with your family and Christmas Day at your spouse’s, or vice versa.

3. Family Holidays on Non-Holidays

You don’t have to see every parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin and in-law on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Why not celebrate Thanksgiving on Saturday for brunch? Or host Christmas dinner on the Friday after Christmas?

The spirit of the holiday can be celebrated on any day with family and friends. Why not spread the holidays out and host holidays on non-holiday days?

Staying at Home for Christmas

Staying at home with your own family unit for the holidays is an option that shouldn’t be overlooked. Traveling from house to house, packing and unpacking, cold weather, tired kids and tired parents can take a toll on the spirit of the holidays.

If you’ve been traveling on major holidays, you may want to consider a quieter holiday at home. Spending Christmas Eve with family and Christmas Day at home is an option, too.

Dividing the day works, too…Christmas Day at home, and Christmas evening with family.

Open Communication when Splitting the Holidays

No matter what you and your spouse decide, it should be done with open communication. You both should honor the others needs, wants and traditions, and come to a compromise.

Unfortunately splitting the holidays is never truly a 50/50 split. However, with an open line of communication as well as compromise, a solution should be available.

When you and your spouse have reached a decision, be sure to address your plans with your families accordingly. And be sure to let your families know that both of you have made these decisions.