Everyone wants a pleasant, memorable holiday season, but somehow stress and family conflict can creep in and take the joy out of the celebration. However, there are ways to make the holiday enjoyable with teenagers… it just takes a bit of planning and thought. Include Teens in the Planning At the beginning of the holiday season, sit down with your
Read moreOur expectations define our experiences. In the exact same situation, two people can have very different experiences based on what they expected to happen. For example, let’s assume Sally and Fred attend a holiday party. Sally was dreading the party and thought it would be boring and awkward. Fred was very excited to attend the party and thought it would
Read moreAs children grow older, it is all too easy to give up on holiday traditions. Everyone’s busy schedule is crammed with extra to-do lists, parents tend to be feeling a little tired from the pressure, and teens can be less-than-enthusiastic participants in family activities. But, we encourage you to not give up on holiday traditions for two main reasons! First,
Read moreWith all of the holiday hype, this season is not always easy! There is stress, extra family, teens home from school, demands on your time, financial burden, and unrealistic expectations. We want your family to have the best holidays possible, so we offer these recommendations: Fight boredom. Time off from school with nothing to do increases the chance that your
Read moreWe often have great expectations for the holidays. We imagine gathering by a fire with all of our extended family, laughing and sharing special moments. Unfortunately, as we all know, that doesn’t always happen. Families can often bring stress instead. Here are some quotes from frazzled parents about family relations at the holidays: “I feel like I’m trying to take
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