Creating New Traditions When You're a Fish Out of Water

The holidays are supposed to be the "most wonderful time of the year," but what happens when everything familiar has changed?

In this episode, I share my personal experience of navigating our first holiday season after moving cross-country. We are facing the unique challenge of welcoming our college-aged kids back to a house that isn't their childhood home.

I open up about the "weeds" of this season: the pressure to recreate old feelings in a new place, the jealousy I feel when scrolling through social media, and the reality that my kids don't have their usual friends or cars here.

But we also talk about finding the "wonder." We discuss how to hold two opposing emotions at once—like gratitude and sadness—without letting one cancel the other out. Plus, I share how we are embracing the Minnesota winter, exploring outdoor holiday markets, and even starting unlikely new traditions like going to an NBA game.

If you are feeling like a fish out of water this season, this episode is for you.

Online Community Our Women of Wonder community is a safe place to say the quiet stuff out loud, free from judgment. Women helping other women is a tried-and-true approach for empowerment and success, not to mention laughter and love. W.o.W. offers continuous support and resources, plus access to Dr. Cristie, for a low-cost membership.

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Chapters: 0:00 - Intro: The messiness of human life 1:34 - The Empty Nest & Moving: Being a fish out of water 6:01 - The pressure to make it feel like "home" 11:26 - It is okay to be jealous (The Scales of Justice) 17:09 - Throwback: Hooky Cookie Day 20:35 - Embracing the Minnesota Winter 29:22 - Creating new traditions




Welcome to "Wonder in the Weeds" with trauma therapist Cristie Ritz-King.

This is the show where we talk about how to live, love, and grow right alongside grief, change, and the "wild messiness of this human life".

Moving beyond the role of the "blank slate" therapist , Cristie combines her professional experience with her personal stories of challenge and reinvention. We're not about toxic positivity or influencer-style advice. Instead, this is a space for authentic connection, community , and understanding that we don't have to wait for life to be perfect to feel good.





Each week, we'll talk about:

Finding "wonder" even when you feel like you're "walking through the weeds".

Navigating personal change, from parenting to finding your authentic self.


The "Weeds of the Week," where we discuss everything from small daily annoyances to the big things that bother us.


Sharing stories to feel less alone in our experiences.


Join us to get through the weeds together.

Let's connect:

➡️ Website: https://thewonder.life/