The holiday season means time with family, but we understand these gatherings aren’t always full of sugar, spice, and everything nice. While a cliche, having the in-laws over and dealing with unwanted conversations is a common occurrence, but we’re here to help! We’ve compiled the best advice from experts all over the country to help you have the best holiday season possible. Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving at your rental home in Sammamish, WA, are celebrating a night of Hannukah at your apartment in Cincinnati, OH, or having Christmas day in your Waldorf, MD home, we hope these tips help you to keep these festivities well, festive.
Acceptance
Election year or not, difficult topics and tensions can arise throughout the holidays. Our first recommendation to dealing with family over the holidays is to accept that differing opinions and unwanted comments are likely to present themselves.
“Family dynamics often bring up old patterns, and while we may hope things will go smoothly, that’s not always the reality,” says Colorado Therapy Collective therapist Sara Haynes. Although it is possible for conflict not to happen, it’s highly likely it will, so it’s better to be prepared. “Acknowledging this can be painful, often bringing up grief or difficult emotions, but show compassion toward yourself by creating space for these feelings, whether through journaling or talking with a therapist,” suggests Sara.
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