There are so many tensions that we experience over the Christmas period that it is often a flash point rather than a time of harmony and love.
From spending time with relatives that we only see once a year and perhaps don't know very well or are not really very fond of.
Trying to prepare and cook food that we are unfamiliar with and have expectations that it will all go according to a plan is a disaster waiting to happen, with so many ideas about how to cook the perfect turkey there are many opportunities for something to go wrong.
That extra glass of wine to help you relax might be the thing that starts a chain of events that could be hard to recover from.
Getting 'unwanted presents', that we feel we have to say thank you for, when we may think that they are just not representative of what we would like, especially when we may have spent a lot of time and effort choosing something and feel it has not been received well.
There are many ways of choosing a gift, some people just go out with a list of the number of presents and what they are, and then decide who to give what too. Not the best way to create happiness and a well received gift.
Some people think of each individual and make a decision based on the present they want the person to have, I have had many pairs of uncomfortable underwear that has not been to my taste or is totally impossible to wear.
By far the best way of choosing presents is to think about the person you are buying for and then consider whether this is something that they would spend their own money on, if you are able to do this well then you will be a success at giving presents that are well received and enjoyed.
Our expectations of what a relationship should provide are often unrealistic, and we may muddle along during the year, but with the added pressure of Christmas it is harder to maintain our 'cool' and think with a clear head.
By reviewing your expectations and being a little more generous of spirit with yourself and your friends and family, can make the difference between a happy Christmas and New year to look forward to rather than a time of unhappiness and stress which may lead to a future of difficulty and anger.
If more separations and divorces happen over the Christmas and New Year period don't make yours one of them.
