It’s coming: The holiday season. Unfortunately, stress and frustration seem to come as well.

As you think about the upcoming holiday season, consider: What do you want?

Perhaps you’d like a year off and would like another family member to host a holiday. Or, perhaps you’d like to host a holiday (it’s easier than transporting your caree) but you’d prefer that the meal be pot-luck (everyone brings something). Perhaps you’d like to enjoy a meal out with your family.

Whatever you want, communicate your desires with your family. And, in your communication, stress what you want (quality time with the family, an opportunity to create memories, a quiet time with family and friends) versus what you don’t want (to clean, cook or shop). When family members hear what you want, they’ll be able to respond in a way to help. If they hear what you don’t want, they may only hear complaints and simply tune you out.

Consider: What do you want? Then, tell them.

Inside Our Holiday Survival Guide

—Keep Your Cool

—The Chocolate’s Okay, But I Melted

—Holiday Stress Busters

—Ten Signs an Aging Relative Needs Help

—Take Our Button-Pushing Test

—Your Wish List

—What Do You Want?

—Bah Humbug? A True Tale of Christmas

—Listen to Managing Your Holiday Stress teleclass (Before listening, a little homework for you: What do you dread about the holiday season? What’s one wish you have for yourself? One wish you have for your caree? This teleclass was originally recorded in 2009.)

—Take our free webinar, “Say Yes to the Best Holiday Ever by Saying No.” (This webinar originally aired in 2010.)

—Holiday Spent: Creating and Sticking to a Holiday Spending Plan (Your Caregiving Journey talk show, originally aired in 2010)

—Sharing the Holidays with Unhappy Family Members (Your Caregiving Journey talk show, originally aired in 2010)

—Facing the Holiday Fantasy (Your Caregiving Journey talk show, originally aired in 2010)

—Holiday Healing: Stop the Games But Form a Team (Your Caregiving Journey talk show, originally aired in 2009)

—Listen to Managing Your Holiday Stress teleclass (Before listening, a little homework for you: What do you dread about the holiday season? What’s one wish you have for yourself? One wish you have for your caree? This teleclass was originally recorded in 2009.)

—Take our free webinar, “Say Yes to the Best Holiday Ever by Saying No.” (This webinar originally aired in 2010.)

—Holiday Spent: Creating and Sticking to a Holiday Spending Plan (Your Caregiving Journey talk show, originally aired in 2010)

—Sharing the Holidays with Unhappy Family Members (Your Caregiving Journey talk show, originally aired in 2010)

—Facing the Holiday Fantasy (Your Caregiving Journey talk show, originally aired in 2010)

—Holiday Healing: Stop the Games But Form a Team (Your Caregiving Journey talk show, originally aired in 2009)

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