The holidays are supposed to be magical… but for a lot of couples, they feel more like a minefield of expectations, family pressure, tight finances, and old wounds that get stirred up every December. In this episode of Imperfectly Married, Michael and Heather get real about how the holiday season can quietly strain even healthy marriages — and how to protect your relationship before the stress hits full force.They share personal stories from their own journey: growing up in divorced homes, feeling pulled between multiple families, juggling four Thanksgivings in one year, trying to keep Christmas on a $500 budget for everyone, and carrying the unseen mental load of planning, shopping, wrapping, and managing all the details. They talk about the resentment that can build when one spouse does 99 percent of the emotional and logistical work, the pressure of “fairness” between families, and the guilt and shame that often come with money stress around gifts and traditions.Find us online:Website: https://imperfectlymarriedpodcast.com/Merch: https://imperfectlymarriedpodcast.com/storeInstagram: imperfectlymarried_thepodcast Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576918626044TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@imperfectly_married