Artwork for podcast This Complex Life
Are We Really Fighting About the Christmas Ham?
Episode 11619th December 2024 • This Complex Life • Marie Vakakis
00:00:00 00:13:24

Share Episode

Shownotes

Holidays are meant to be magical, but let’s be honest – they can also be a whirlwind of stress, unmet expectations, and arguments over things like... ham on napkins. Ever found yourself mid-fight during the holiday season, wondering, “What are we even fighting about?” This episode is for you.


As a therapist, I see this all the time in my sessions: couples bickering over seemingly small things that often hold deeper meaning. Today, I’m unpacking what’s really behind those seemingly silly holiday fights and sharing practical ways to handle them with curiosity and connection.

We’ll explore why the conflict isn’t really about the napkins or the ham, but what they represent – memories, traditions, or unmet needs. So, whether you’re dealing with family chaos, mismatched holiday vibes, or just the general holiday rush, I’ve got you covered.

Key Takeaways:

  • Why holiday fights are rarely about what they seem – and how to figure out what’s really going on.
  • The importance of understanding your partner’s holiday traditions and what they mean to them.
  • How to approach disagreements with curiosity rather than conflict.
  • Tips for validating your partner’s feelings (even if you don’t agree!).
  • Why compromise is healthy – and how to do it without dismissing each other’s needs.
  • How to start meaningful conversations about celebrating holidays together.
  • The power of acknowledging sadness when things don’t go as planned.

Resources:

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to leave a review and subscribe for more conversations on navigating life and relationships. Let’s keep the conversation going on social media – I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Ready to hit reset on your relationship? Join me for a workshop packed with practical tools and guided prompts to help you and your partner communicate better, tackle tricky topics like money, and create a clear plan for the year ahead. 

-- JOIN ME LIVE--

https://marievakakis.com.au/events/

Follow

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube

More Episodes
116. Are We Really Fighting About the Christmas Ham?
00:13:24
115. Are Your Holiday Boundaries Strong Enough?
00:14:04
114. Why Does My Teen Seem So Anxious, and How Can I Help?
00:18:12
113. Why Does My Teen Seem so Moody?
00:12:04
112. Why Doesn’t My Teen Want to Spend Time with the Family?
00:16:41
110. Why Does My Teen Feel Overwhelmed and What Can I Do to Support Them?
00:07:55
108. Why Doesn’t My Teen Listen to Me Anymore?
00:14:44
107. Is It Ok to Read My Child's Diary?
00:14:16
106. Bids for Connection. REPLAY
00:25:18
105. Is Couples Therapy Right for Your Relationship
00:57:43
104. What Women Aren't Told About Sex
00:18:21
103. Why do some people avoid couples therapy? REPLAY
00:43:53
102. Discussing Sex and Consent with Teens
00:38:52
101. Talking to Kids and Teens About Sex and Consent
00:19:26
100. Debunking Sex Myths
00:37:23
99. Why Doesn’t My Teen Listen to Me Anymore?
00:17:29
98. Supporting young mens emotional and mental health.
00:29:51
97. Is Your Teen Changing Overnight? Here's What’s Happening
00:17:25
96. Tackling Shame in Men with Michael Derby
00:34:02
95. Transform Your Relationship in One Hour a Week with State of the Union Meetings
00:09:35
94. Unlocking Happiness and Men’s Mental Health with Tim Sharp
00:36:10
93. You Made Me This Way Confronting Childhood Trauma and Surviving Sexual Abuse
00:39:50
92. Navigating Conflict and Embracing Vulnerability with John Flanagan
00:47:27
91. Understanding Depression: Men's Mental Health with Therapist Simon Rinne
00:39:31
90. Intro- Mens Health Month
00:00:53
89. Understanding Addiction. Coping Strategies and Sober Dating Tips
00:48:37
88. Help. My teens aren't interested in me. What do I do?
00:24:27
87. How our mindset impacts how we eat
00:46:48
86. How do I support my daughter through sexual assault without adding to the trauma?
00:11:11
85. Growing Yourself Up with Dr Jenny Brown
00:39:18
84. Navigating ADHD Coaching vs Therapy
00:40:51
83. What's an ADHD coach with Jodi Green _ ADHD part 1
00:34:45
82. Mini episode: Why won't my teen listen to me?
00:06:08
81. Mini series: Why won’t my teen talk to me after school?
00:03:45
80. Parents feeling rejected by their teens.
00:20:55
79. Dealing with rejection. Part 1
00:22:02
78. Building Stronger Parent-Child Relationships: A Conversation with Jenny Brown
00:33:01
77. What to expect when you start therapy
00:22:34
76. R U OK? Day Special: Talking About Suicide and Mental Health
00:11:41
75. Finding your values with Patch Callahan
00:36:57
74. Complaining is bad for your brain
00:22:15
73. Why do some people avoid couples therapy?
00:44:06
72. Understanding EMDR Therapy with Caroline Burrows
00:37:57
71. Bids for connection
00:26:02
70. I'm just not good enough
00:37:14
69. Do you worry?
00:41:45