Holiday Time!!

I had a wonderful Easter, how was yours?
We spent it with my dads side and these adorable babies above!
Since Easter has come and gone, I have been reminded of something I had to learn after getting married.
Splitting Holidays between families ahhh!!!
The hubby and I both come from families that get together for pretty much all of the holidays so it is a task deciding what we will do each holiday. I come from a divorced family so we also have to split between my two parents. I am used to having to split my holidays, but my husband is not. I will tell you making everything fair and equal is a separate job in itself!
Think about how many holidays there are in a year not counting birthdays and anniversarys.
New Years, Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Memorial Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Thats 9 Holiday's our families celebrate!!

Important questions to ask yourself and your partner:

1. Is the Holiday one we are wanting to spend with family?
1. Economic means and how important the Holiday is effect our decision.
2. Who is using the Holiday to celebrate it and who is just having a get together?
1. The difference I see is that a celebration is where traditional activities related to the holiday will take place. Get-together's are when everyone gets together to catch up and talk but do not really focus on traditional parts of the holiday.
3.  Which parents have seen us more recently?
1. This one does not always apply with bigger holidays
4. What is your true reasoning for wanting to spend it with one family vs the other
1. Always be honest with each other on where you stand, trust me holding anything back with the small things will just cause bitterness.
5. Is this something we can host or can we bring both families together?
• Understand that some families will not feel comfortable with either idea

• Compromise?

• If the Holiday is important to both of you, then try to figure out a schedule to see both families.

My hubby and I do not always fully agree on the Holiday decisions but we do our best to compromise.  We decided a long time ago to have two holiday's that are just for us-New Years & Valentine's Day. My family is more traditional and his family is very laid back at Holiday's. If you live closer to one set of parents and they see you more, then flexibility may be possible. Sometimes they will never budge on the date and we decided when that happens that they will not get to see us every year. This is usually only a problem with extended family, our parents are pretty flexible.

Final tips

• Remember, compromise is the key
• You and your spouse are the only opinions that should matter (otherwise it gets very complicated)
• Respect each other's views and opinions
• Try to make everything fair
• Stay firm but respectful with your parents and inlaws
• If all else fails, just stay home

How do you figure out the Holiday's?