The holidays promise magic, but for many parents, December brings something very different: pressure, exhaustion, emotional overload, and a quiet sense of “I should be enjoying this more.” 

In this tender and insightful episode of The Parenthood and Relationship Podcast, we look at why the season that’s supposed to bring joy so often creates tension between partners, overstimulation for parents, and a mental load that silently grows heavier with every school event, family dinner, and shopping list. 

Drawing from real stories and psychological research, we explore the gap between holiday expectations and reality, and how it disproportionately affects couples navigating parenting. 

Many parents carry scripts from childhood, cultural pressure from social media, and the emotional residue of “good family” myths that don’t match lived experience. 

Add financial pressure, uneven task distribution, and emotional labor, and the holidays can become an annual relationship stress test instead of a bonding moment.

But this season doesn’t have to drain you.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to set boundaries that actually stick, lower holiday stress by realigning expectations, and create micro-rituals that strengthen connection rather than fragment it. 

Using evidence-based strategies, we can create a holiday that feels calmer, more authentic, and more aligned with the family you’re building, not the one you think you “should” be recreating.

This is an invitation to simplify, soften, and reclaim the heart of the season.

 A reminder that connection matters far more than perfection.

Let’s explore:

1. Why seasonal overwhelm intensifies the mental load for parents


2. The psychology behind holiday expectations vs reality


3. How to reduce relationship stress by communicating early and clearly


4. A deeper emotional insight: how your childhood scripts shape the pressure you feel during December

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Full Transcript HERE.

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Markella Kaplani, M.A.

Clinical-Counseling Psychologist

Parenthood & Relationship Coach

www.markellakaplani.com