Post Reports Stressed about the holidays? Carolyn Hax has advice.
Dec 23, 2025
Carolyn Hax, a seasoned advice columnist for The Washington Post, shares her insights on navigating holiday stress. She emphasizes that heightened emotions during this season stem from unrealistic expectations. Hax offers practical advice on balancing family dynamics, like managing a mother who won’t leave the kitchen, supporting spouses over stepchildren, and setting boundaries in relationships. She also provides rapid-fire solutions to holiday dilemmas and reminds listeners to find grounding in challenging moments.
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Support Your Parent, Don't Fix Their Marriage
- If a stepparent's adult child's demands fracture the couple, step back if you're an outsider.
- Offer support to the spouse who feels rejected and ask, "What do you need?"
Tell Your Spouse The Emotional Cost
- If you're the spouse being sidelined, state your feelings and the emotional cost clearly to your partner.
- Consider counseling or decide whether the relationship is worth staying in if priorities won't change.
Bring In Professional Support For Child Trauma
- When raising a bereaved child, get professional support to navigate trauma and contact decisions.
- Prioritize the child's best interest over immediate logistics like Christmas morning.