“Oh by gosh by golly, it’s time for mistletoe and holly,” plays in the air with Frank Sinatra setting the mood in your home. On the surface, all appears calm and wonderful on the family front. The children have that special holiday glow in their eyes, your wife is creating smells from the kitchen that delight the senses, and even your dog is on his best behavior lately.
Holidays are a lot of fun. Yet, they can also be a bit like trying to navigate a mine field in battle. One false move and the whole thing can go up in smoke. Our wives are especially vulnerable at this time of the year, and if we aren’t aware of the pitfalls, serious damage to the marriage can occur. So to best love our wives as the type of men we are striving to be, here are some ideas to help your wife through to January.
When that month comes around and the bills come due, then it will be her turn to rescue you. But for now, let’s focus on her and the holidays.
Here are 5 ways to make your wife happy during the holidays:
1. The In-Law Syndrome.
Holidays are a time for families to be together, and when families get together, well we all know that can sometimes be a volatile mix. In even the best of families, with the nicest of people, there will always be some sort of tension somewhere. More often than not, that tension resides between the mother who raised you and the woman you are married to. Certainly not always the case, but it is well-documented to be one of the top causes of family conflict. Keep that in mind when your wife is busy making her special Christmas ham, and your mom is right beside her providing ‘helpful’ tips on what she is doing wrong. Observe the body language and tone of your bride, and when you see and hear that tension starting to build, it might be time to divert Mom away from the scene. Ask her about a holiday memory from your childhood as you gently lead her from the room. That technique is called conflict prevention and you’d be wise to master it. read entire article
