Family Togetherness at Thanksgiving

Ah, the holidays! Always a great time to get together with family members you haven’t seen in a while and catch up. But what if there’s a reason you haven’t seen them in a while?

Believe it or not, it IS possible to enjoy the holidays with people you don’t necessarily share religious, political or cultural beliefs with. It just takes a little patience, a pinch of humility and a healthy sprinkle of forbearance. No matter how much you and Uncle Fred might disagree about politics, you can still laugh and reminisce together if you try.

There are a few steps you can take to reduce the stress around your Thanksgiving table. Start with a fairly basic one:

Alcohol is Not A Requirement

That’s right! If intoxicated family members tend to be argumentative, you don’t have to promote it. What a novel concept!

Of course, if those present can handle it, there’s nothing that says you can’t have wine, beer or other drinks at the feast. Just be aware of the potential issues.

Check Sensitive Topics at the Door

One smart rule is to ban tough subjects at the celebration. After all, it’s meant to be a festive day to enjoy one another’s company. There are plenty of other times you can talk politics, religion, and other hot topics. Keep the get-together focused on family good times, sports, the weather and neutral concepts.

Add Buffers

Most people are more polite around people they don’t know well. So why not invite a friend or two to the big event? Everybody brings a potluck dish, and the newbie can sit between Uncle Fred and cousin Laurene, who always clash. Win-win!

Keep it All in Perspective

It’s one day. Consider toning down your own opinions in the interest of keeping the peace. Count your blessings. There will come a day when you won’t have the opportunity to roll your eyes, shake your head and share family tales with all those present. Enjoy the chance while you can.

You can find plenty of other helpful hints about surviving the holiday family events on the web.

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