Three Simple Keys to reduce Christmas…..STRESS!

Is the Christmas season starting to STRESS you out? Well considering this blog normally goes out on Tuesday and it’s now Wednesday, I’d say the answer in the Laffoon household is YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!

So how do you reduce the STRESS normally associated with the Christmas season? Here are three simple keys to reduce Christmas stress.

First, maintain your HEALTH! Nothing stresses us out more than tight fitting clothes from too much holiday fudge. Remember to enjoy the fun food but eat it in moderation. Also, even though it’s a busy time of year do not forget to get enough rest and exercise. Good sleep and regular exercise can help you keep a clear mind and reduce the amount of “over-thinking” this time of year brings.

Second, maintain your RELATIONSHIPS! Remember that Christmas is about celebrating Christ’s birth so keep in touch with HIM first and foremost. Stay grounded in the Word and in Prayer during this season and see how your relationships will flourish. When we keep Christ first HE helps us see the importance of the key relationships we have at home, work and church.

Finally maintain your PRIORITIES! The busyness of this season can often fog our perception of what is and isn’t important. Remember to stay connected with your spouse on the important decisions this season. SET BOUNDARIES together as to what you will and will not say agree to do. Those boundaries will help keep the “good” things away that will allow you to focus on the “great”!

Here’s to a stress free Christmas!

Blessings~

Jay and Laura

Kids Killing your Marriage?

Maybe “killing” is too strong a word…but….nonetheless…Kids in your house add joy and stress to any marriage.

When the kids are young, the details of taking care of a new baby can overwhelm the joy of parenthood. The diapers, the feedings, the sleep deprivation….etc. Most women find themselves having this thought at some point, “Sex? He has got to be kidding!”

As these lovely bundles of joy grow older, the challenges change. Now we add behaviorial issues, extra-curricular activities, homework,etc. Parents find themselves too tired to enjoy each other.

Fast forward a few years, and now they are teenagers.  These young adults keep hours that we, as husband & wife, can no longer keep! We find ourselves hiding away in our bedrooms to grab a few moments alone.

Reality is this: as husband and wife we MUST keep “the main thing, the main thing”! More and more couples are identifying themselves as friends rather than lovers.  This is a growing trend, and a scary one! Couples need to set boundaries, be creative, and keep the main thing the main thing.

Set boundaries with your children, young or old.  One of my biggest pet peeves is couples who allow there school aged children to stay up so late that as a married couple they have no time together. Jay and I have always made our kids go to be at a time that allows us at least an hour together.

Be creative in your time together. Take time for lunch together. Make a date night and get a babysitter. Your kids can do without you for one evening a week!

Keep the main thing the main thing. Loving your spouse, and making your marital relationship the most important human relationship in your life, is the BEST thing you can do for your kids! Your kids will grow up to be healthy, happy, and productive adults if you and your spouse make your marriage a priority above all else.

What do you do to keep “The main thing the main thing?” in your marriage.