The holidays are a minefield for couples with infertility.
Unexpected pregnancy announcements, kid-oriented services and celebrations, and insensitive relatives are some of the mines that couples encounter, sometimes even unexpectedly, during the holiday season.
Finding cheer in the midst of celebrations that place extra emphasis on children and families with young children is a challenge, but Dr. Alice Dormar has come up with an extensive list of suggestions to help you cope with infertility during the holidays and enjoy your time together as a couple.
Some of our favorites include:
- Create your own family traditions based on things you enjoy from your childhood and things you enjoy doing with your spouse or partner.
- Use your traditions to re-frame how you see the holidays. Instead of seeing it as the third year without children, see this year as your first year having Belgian waffles on January 1st!
- Prepare congratulations for possible pregnancy announcements and snappy comebacks for intrusive relatives. Don’t be afraid to gracefully back out of a party scene that is too much for you to handle.
- Choose the times that you spend with children wisely. Attend services when children are less likely to be present, and find ways to visit with family while taking care of your needs as well.
- Shop for the children in your life based on your childhood wishlist to keep painful feelings at bay.
Are you looking for support coping with infertility during the holidays? We can help.
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