Practical Tips For Couples On Dividing Time Between Families

There is no getting away from it: couples often have to divide their time between their respective families during the festive season. Here's how to do it better.

- Ravina M Sachdev

Being engaged or newly married is blissful, but the period certainly comes with its own challenges. One of them is deciding which family to celebrate festivals with. If you're lucky, it's an easy and effortless distribution of time, and everyone is happy, but more often, there can be stress, uncertainty and hurt feelings along the way. Here's how you can better navigate the scenario so your partner and you have a memorable festive season.

TALK ABOUT IT

"First, remember your partner and you are one unit so the easiest way to decide how time should be spent together is to be honest about your expectations from day one, and figure out the best and most practical solution," avers Amishi Gambhir, a Mumbai-based life coach. Talk to your partner and ensure that the two of you are on the same page on major aspects before either of you commits to anything or anyone. "Keep in mind that both your families are special and important, no one wants to hurt anyone's feelings, and the best way to do that is to communicate the same to your partner."

PLAN IN ADVANCE