Video:
A Thanksgiving Miracle - SNL

Well, it’s one way to interrupt conflict around the table ;-)

Video:
“The Needlers" — SNL Skit

Do NOT be this couple!  Do NOT do this to each other NOR to your family and friends. Yikes! 

Video:
Dr. Deb Castaldo on Taking Care of the Couple Stress Over the Holidays

Video:
The Story of Festivus

Remember, your holiday family dinner is NOT the place for the “airing of grievances.”

Blog Article:
Hookey Dates

Stories:
“We can love Christmas again.” One Couple’s Set Intention for Christmas

Tami and Paul Schultz* have been through many, many relentless and ongoing personal, family, and health struggles. They found themselves frequently “hating Christmas.”

Tami drew Paul’s favorite character, Snoopy, and gave him this drawing with the inscription: “We can love Christmas again.” That’s the set intention. I love it. And then she added the action: “Starting December 1st, each day we will write one good thing about Christmas.”

Paul was touched and gratefully accepted Tami’s invitation. Each day, on a whiteboard, they write one thing they love about Christmas.

Their life’s struggles haven’t gone away. However, they report that they have reclaimed their experience themselves together as a team, instead of forces outside their control determine how they feel. In so doing, they have also grown closer together as a couple. I love this so much!

*Shared with permission.

Facebook Post & Comments:
Intentional Christmas (Setting Your Intention for the Holidays)

Use this link if the embedded post doesn’t show up below: https://www.facebook.com/GREATrelationships/posts/2228515420513953

Facebook Post & Comments:
My wife Kara’s helpful 8-Point PSA about her own SAD that can help you, too!

My wife, Kara, is a wonderful advocate for mental health. One of her great strengths is she talks openly and easily about her own mental health without shame and without stigma. That has been so helpful for so many to normalize a very common thing so many suffer and struggle with in silence. Several .years ago she wrote this helpful 8-point PSA about her Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) that can help you, too! I try to share it every year.

Use this link if the embedded post doesn’t show up below: https://www.facebook.com/karapoppletonsherman/posts/10204546455492812

Facebook Post & Comments:
Family Togetherness ≠ Family Therapy

Use this link if the embedded post doesn’t show up below: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=863295507035958&set=a.199771080055074

Facebook Post & Comments:
Respect Differences, Focus on Commonalities

Happy Thanksgiving! In our family we have omnivores, a vegan, a vegetarian, lactose intolerant, and gluten intolerant, and we all respectively enjoy dinner together just fine. No one makes fun of the differences, no one is offended, no one expects to be catered to, people politely eat around what they can’t eat, some bring things they can eat, and Kara often sweetly makes a vegan option, though no one expects her to. Everyone acts almost like civilized people with respect and basic manners. Imagine that.

We also have differing beliefs (political and religious) and lifestyles around the table. And the same applies: we can love one another, be kind, focus on commonalities, and be respectful of differences. Imagine that.

Each year I remind my clients that holiday dinners are not family therapy sessions. Save that for my office. Don’t bring up every issue. Focus on what IS vs. what ISN’T. Enjoy the food, be polite, smile and nod, remember the adage “don’t discuss politics or religion in polite company,” a lot of work went into dinner and getting everyone there—this isn’t YOUR platform, and if differences must be addressed do so respectfully at a more appropriate time and setting.

Use this link if the embedded post doesn’t show up below: https://www.facebook.com/GREATrelationships/posts/4823798887652247

Recommended Reading List for Relationships, Parenting, & Self-Help

Click the image to the right to access my tried and true go-to’s for one of the all-time best stress-busters of them all: Knowledge and skills.

Holiday Cartoons

 Sherman Family Holiday Nonsense Over the Years…