However, upon further review, I have uncovered some quandaries that the holidays present.
Where do we go?
My family has Christmas traditions that are so embedded in our psyches that these traditions are immovable forces. Now, as people get married in our family, we have to consider other families' holidays. Most couples I know do the Thanksgiving/Xmas tradeoff: the wife has the husband join her family for Thanksgiving, and the husband has his wife join his family for Xmas. Then they swap the holidays the next year. When families live near one another things are easier, but holiday plan negotiations can definitely cause conflict.
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To buy, or not to buy a gift
The other day I was walking home with my friend from work, and she was contemplating whether she should buy a gift for this guy she just started seeing.
"I mean, is he going to buy me one," she wondered.
When you're in a relationship, there is a time when gift-giving becomes acceptable, but this time is more based on feeling, and it depends on the nature of your relationship. But say you just started dating a few months ago, and things are going smoothly. You have not discussed buying gifts. So, given this unknown, would you feel comfortable buying a gift not knowing whether or not this boyfriend/girlfriend of yours has bought one? Whether you're the person that didn't buy a gift when they bought you one, or the other way around, it's pretty awkward.
...and let's not even mention when it gets to the point that you have to buy gifts for in-laws, or significant others' families!
Do You have any Holiday Relationship Quandries? Read More at Marie Claire.
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