Oh, the stress and strain of holidays. The forced march from Thanksgiving to Hanukkah and Christmas to New Years. Money stress, family stress, travel stress, time stress. And you do what you do because there are family traditions and expectations, but they may be traditions and expectations that no longer work — that 16-hour drive to grandma’s has turned into a kid complaint fest because all the kids want to do is stay home and play with their new toys; the lone single daughter feels awkward among all the families and would rather be hanging on a beach somewhere. But like the Emperor’s New Clothes, everyone goes along because no one has the nerve to speak up; everyone is afraid to rock the boat.
Your Holiday Debriefing
When Your Routine Doesn't Work
Robert Taibbi
I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 45 years experience, primarily in community mental health working with couples and families as a clinician, supervisor and clinical director. My work is grounded in cognitive-behavioral therapy and systems theory with a heavy emphasis on changing dysfunctional patterns and behaviors in everyday life.
