Putting your marriage on your holiday gift list
By Shela Dean
In the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations and celebrations, we often neglect the one thing that is nearest and dearest to our hearts: our marriage. We get so caught up in finding special gifts, and planning special celebrations, and making special recipes, and getting the house especially merry and bright for family and friends that we barely take time to buy the usual bottle of cologne or pair of slippers for our spouse, much less give time or thought to our relationship.
No wonder the holidays are so depleting and so stressful for so many of us! We’re giving almost nothing to the relationship that’s supposed to give us the most comfort and joy and strength.
What if you put your relationship on your holiday gift list? What if you gave your marriage a special gift this holiday season?
For one thing, it will help you both to de-stress and to enjoy the holidays more. As important, it will also bring the two of you closer and give your relationship the TLC it deserves and needs.
Here are five relationship-gift ideas to consider:
- Hire a housecleaning service to scrub your home from top to bottom, and spend the extra time together, instead of preparing the house for guests.
- Have a romantic party for two by the light of candles and holiday decorations. Pour your favorite beverage. Dine on cheese and crackers or fancy hors d’oeuvres and fine chocolate or scrumptious desserts. Play your favorite holiday music, and when Brenda Lee’s Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (or your favorite) comes on, push the furniture out of the way and dance.
- Buy a “for us” gift you’ll both enjoy all year, such as bicycles, or season’s tickets to the local playhouse, or a membership in a wine-of-the-month (or food) club.
- Treat yourselves to a relaxing, pre-holiday weekend getaway or day at the spa.
- Take a one-day staycation to visit a local museum, take a scenic drive, go out to dinner and a holiday concert in a nearby city, or whatever seems like a relaxing and enjoyable way to spend a not-at-home day together.
Giving your relationship a special gift is a lovely way of saying how much you love one another and staying sane during the holiday hubbub.
Shela Dean is a relationship coach, speaker, and the author of Frequent Foreplay Miles: Your Ticket to Total Intimacyand ReDate Your Mate: 4 Steps to Falling in Love All Over Again.
