Committed: The Ties that Bond
with Angella Dykstra
I'm a mom of three, a professional accountant, and an amateur photographer and writer. I am not a marriage expert. But my husband and I take "Til death do us part" seriously, and here I'll be sharing how we keep our marriage strong while we both do that insane work-life juggle.
Check out my Work It, Mom! profile and my blog, Dutch Blitz.
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My husband and I established a tradition when our first child was here for his first Christmas. We went to evening service, we tucked him into bed, and then my husband and I sat on the couch to exchange presents. Wine was poured, Christmas music was playing, and we got to have a date night in. We’ve done this every year since. There is the comfort of routine and the quiet of the evening before Christmas morning hits. It is one of my most favorite nights of the year, if not THE most favorite night of the year.
It has come to my attention as of late that some people do not exchange gifts with their spouses at Christmas. I’ve seen posts online, and my husband has told me about people whom we know in town who do not exchange gifts. This does not compute for me, the one who loves our Christmas Eve gift exchange, but I am not wired like everyone else on the planet. (Surprise!)
Do you and your spouse exchange presents at Christmas?
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My fiance and I exchange gifts and I expect we will in the future as well. The only way I could see us not exchanging gifts is if we were experiencing some sort of financial situation or planned a trip instead of gifts.
K | December 16th, 2011 at 8:57 am
As fiances we did, as married people, this year, we are not, as we are going on a trip. In the future? Hard to say. I like it a lot, but he could take it or leave it.
Our first Christmas gift exchange was, uh, awkward? We went to church on Christmas Eve (in separate cars) and then in the blustering snow he gave me a little box and said “here.” Uh, okay? I didn’t open it until we saw one another on the 26th. Loved it, still love it, am wearing it today.
Heather | December 16th, 2011 at 10:19 am
We have in the past, but the main reason we don’t is that we simply can’t afford it. Noah was a student for the first four years of our marriage and now we’re in hardcore debt-paying mode and it doesn’t leave much (any) extra for gifts. One day. ONE DAY. Noah hates that we don’t exchange gifts, but I’m sure we will eventually.
Mrs. Wilson | December 16th, 2011 at 11:03 am
We don’t either. Like Mrs. Wilson, we’re on a budget, and with my husband back in school, I’m the sole income in our house. Which makes Christmas a bit stressful in terms of wanting (/having) to find gifts for so many people… we thought we’d at least give each other a break. Plus my husband has PTSD and finds the holidays especially stressful. With no kids of our own yet and my family far away, we usually spend the holidays with his big, boisterous, extended family. So enjoying them but also carving out little times for ourselves to breathe, have belly laughs, see friends, and have good conversations is our Christmas gift to each other. If you will.
Dani | December 17th, 2011 at 10:47 am