During the Thanksgiving weekend I spent a lot of time watching football and I noticed two things. One was the “McNuggets Lovin” commercial in heavy rotation, which I kind of love (don’t be stingaaaaaaay), and another was all the engagement ring commercials from Kay! There was one where the guy takes his girlfriend around to different memorable spots in their neighborhood where they had their first kiss and their first date and blah blagh blugck, and they get to a park bench and she says “I don’t remember this place,” upon which he gets down on one knee, pulls out a wedding ring and says, “You will!” Yes, it was smooth, but I don’t appreciate being marketed to during a football game by any company that doesn’t specialize in alcohol or high-definition television, AND I would be extra pissed if I was the poor guy whose girlfriend decided to watch the game with him that day having the lovely folks at Kay putting ideas in her head. They even had one with a deaf woman in it! Just shameless.

The Holiday Season is a pivotal time for relationships because people have a lot of expectations that create a lot of pressure (gifts to buy, places and events you have to go to, family members you’ll have to meet, it’s like both of your birthdays and Valentine’s day at the same time). You’re probably also spending a lot more time together than usual going shopping, visiting people, decorating shit. It can get overwhelming very fast (which is why drinking during the Holidays is oh so crucial). For some couples, the season brings them to get closer together. There are a lot of July, August, and September birthdays for that very reason. For others, it’s the candy cane shaped nail in the coffin. I’m not usually an advocate of long relationships and I know the temptation is strong to break up for the Holidays, save your money, and get back together after Valentine’s Day. But if you want to stay together, how you handle the pressure is key. Don’t put any more pressure on your partner than necessary. Just because your boyfriend tells you he doesn’t feel like going to see your goddaughter in the church performance of the Nativity doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you anymore. Take some time for yourself as you usually would. I’m not saying spend Christmas Eve in the strip club, but a little time apart to breathe is fine. And following every request with the trump card guilt inducing phrase, “But it’s Christmas/New Years” is the fastest way to fuck your relationship up. Unless you want to end up hating each other by January 2nd, take it out of your vocabulary. And most importantly just remember that you love each other, and that all the gifts and the cards and dinners and parties don’t really mean shit without that. There. That’s probably the most sentimental appeal I can give on staying together this Holiday Season. If that doesn’t help, just remember that it’s flu season, too, and there’s nothing worse than being single and sick as hell.