Connect with people who understand what you are going through, seek advice and surround yourself with support. We're free, anonymous, and professionally moderated 24/7.

47,612Members
1,358,869Posts
1,400,000Visitors

Navigating holidays

Magpie22Peer Guide02 Dec 2025, 8:58 pm AEDT

Navigating holidays

Hi all

as we are now in December, I’m wondering how people are planning to approach the holiday period. Any tips for navigating tricky family dynamics? Especially with so many people off work it can sometimes be harder to all get along without the escape of work.

For others, it might be a time where absences are harder felt. Or money is tight.

For me, I try and carve out a part of the day that’s just for me. A walk in the morning or a trip to the cinema on my own. If I have that solitude, I can manage other situations with more calm.

7 replies

1 - 7 of 7

In response to: Navigating holidays

OaktreeSenior Contributor03 Dec 2025, 6:53 pm AEDT

Re: Navigating holidays

@Magpie22

Money is always tight for us in December. Everyone sends us a bill this time of year. I have told all the kids (adults now) that we are not doing presents this year. We always budget for a special Christmas meal. My payday is actually falling on Christmas Day this year so I am hoping they will pay it early.

In response to: Navigating holidays

GalaxyGuideModerator13 Jan 2026, 12:13 pm AEDT

Re: Navigating holidays

Hi everyone,

Happy New Year- I hope it's been a kind start.

Thought I'd jump on here and see how everyone's festive season went? Any highs (or even lows) to share? Is there anything you are looking forward to or have planned for 2026?

@Magpie22 @Oaktree @BecomingOkay @S1TREP @Breakfast68 @Fox17 @ccau_82 @Blackfish73 @WithTheMoon @Rosie13 @Carebear @EchoGirl @CJ130 @LG

In response to: Re: Navigating holidays

CarebearSenior Contributor14 Jan 2026, 5:07 pm AEDT

Re: Navigating holidays

@GalaxyGuide

It was quiet at home during that period.

Some things have come up since then though, such as my partner still being controlling. He changed mine and his flight details just because he wanted to spwnd more time with his mates interstate. He did this without discussing it with me and paid for the change of the flights out of the joint bank account. I mentioned to him that if he wants to change his flight details then that's all good. But to change mine, without checking with me is not acceptable to me. Now I've had to fork out the extra money that was needed to change my flight details.

In response to: Re: Navigating holidays

Magpie22Peer Guide26 Jan 2026, 8:50 am AEDT

Re: Navigating holidays

@GalaxyGuide We had a nice break - a few wells of work gave some much needed rest and the family celebrations went well.
I’m sorry that happened to you @Carebear - but it sounds like you were able to speak up. It must be difficult to navigate those behaviours in your relationship

In response to: Re: Navigating holidays

CarebearSenior Contributor20 Feb 2026, 4:35 am AEDT

Re: Navigating holidays

@Magpie22

Yes, it is hard to navigate his behaviour. Now that he is on a govt pension and never has to work again.

He lies about me to his mates. For example, he booked a holiday in New Zealand for March. I can't go due to work commitments and are really happy and excited for him. He will be watching a Mountain Bike competition.

He has lied to his mates, telling them that I am annoyed that I can't go and that I am jealous of him. Another thing that I found upsetting is that he told his mate that I'm a 'bloody vegetarian'. This was because he and I were staying at his mates place and his mate wanted to know what food to have their for me ro eat.

My partners lies about me being jealous and upset about him booking his New Zealand holiday plus his putdown of me being a vegetarian have left a bad taste in my mouth.

I asked him if he realised that I was excited about his upcoming trip and that I'm not jealous etc. He didn't respond so I added that I don't think that he does.

In response to: Re: Navigating holidays

tymeModerator20 Feb 2026, 8:15 pm AEDT

Re: Navigating holidays

Hey there @Carebear ,

So sorry you are in this situation where you feel your partner doesn't have (or doesn't want to have) an understanding of your needs so that he feels he needs to lie about things.

I'm really curious to know what's happening for him so he feels he has to say/do these things to his mates.

Do you feel he respects you as his partner at all?

In response to: Re: Navigating holidays

CarebearSenior Contributor06 Mar 2026, 12:47 am AEDT

Re: Navigating holidays

@RTY

I don't know why he feels that he has to lie to his mates.

After what literally just happend tonight when he was making dinner, he definitely doesn't respect me. I'm a vegetarian and when he was making dinner he asked if I wanted to have lamb with my dinner, to which I said no.

He just wouldn't let it go and proceeded to talk over me, put me down saying that what I believed about animal cruelty is wrong and that humans have evolved to eat meat etc. Because I.chose to not engage in the situation and remain unaffected (at least outwardly), he got angrier and kept pushing his point.

I eventually calmly said that he either accepts me for me or he doesn't accept me for me - it's that simple.

He went quiet, served my dinner and watched TV.

To say that his behaviour is upsetting is an understatement. He can say or d9 what he likes but at the end of the day, I'm not going to change my love for animals and will always be a vegetarian.

He's going on holidays for a few days to New Zealand soon which I'm excited for him. It's like he 'wants his cake and to eat it to'.

If his mother were alive she would tell him that he is being not very nice.

1 - 7 of 7