“The Holidays”: A challenge for the single, the dating, and the committed

Dear "It" Girl,

Well, today marks the second time I heard Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas" on the radio this week. It's official: "The holidays" are here! Along with the presents, the stockings, and the menorahs, come relational problems for many couples. The December issue of Cosmopolitan magazine provides some insight as to why this most jolly time is one that inspires break-ups among many women and their significant others. (It has to do with an overall crankiness due to a lack of Vitamin D, and overabundance of food, drink, and time spent cooped up in the house together.)

My thoughts on why the holidays create so much drama have to do with the expectations women have that are often unrealistic in nature. (Okay, men have them to, but it is stereotypically women who have gripes about what their men are doing or aren't doing during the holidays.)

I am currently working on an article for The Paramus Post that highlights the challenges for the single, the dating, and the committed. I will offer strategies to help all-from combating loneliness, to managing expectations, to reducing conflict. Perhaps, you have some of your own stories and tips for how you've survived holidays past with your dignity and/or relationship in tact. If so, drop me an email at RachelR2019@gmail.com. If your suggestions are really extraordinary, maybe I'll even quote you in the article.

Love, Rachel Russo, MS. MFT