Are You Dreading Thanksgiving Just Because You’ll Have To See Some Less Than Favorable Family Members? Here’s How You Can Deal With Those Difficult Loved Ones, Cocktails Included
Well, everyone, the holiday season is upon us. You know what that means, right?
It means we’ll all likely be spending a lot more time with family, even those family members we tend to have, you know, issues with.
Thanksgiving is one of those holidays where, for some reason, everyone just loves to find opportunities to pick on each other! Whether it’s your grandmother commenting on your weight or your uncle making you feel dumb because of your political beliefs, jabs from family members at Thanksgiving are tough to deal with.
Once you start feeling attacked by certain relatives or have to watch two relatives get into a debate at the Thanksgiving table, you start feeling a little less thankful and want to reach for more adult beverages.
If you’re starting to get anxious about dealing with rude relatives or family friends during Thanksgiving, try not to let it get the best of you. It’s supposed to be a holiday filled with fun and yummy food. Here are some tips on dealing with difficult relatives during the holidays to get you through Turkey Day!
Take breaks
If you feel there are moments during your family’s Thanksgiving celebration where you need to simply step away and have some time to yourself, do it!
Those who celebrate the holiday with larger groups of people should have an especially easy time doing this, as everyone else will be so preoccupied it may take them a while to notice you’ve stepped out for a few minutes.
Go for a little walk between courses, offer to let the dog outside or take the trash out, or simply take an extended bathroom break to clear your head whenever necessary. Sometimes, the easiest way to diffuse your anger or frustration with a nasty relative is to have a moment alone to breathe.
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Look for buffers
If you know your aunt Carol will bring up how bad your hair looks or watching your parents and grandparents battle over politics is an annual tradition, think of buffers in advance.
You can confide in another family member before Thanksgiving dinner and ask them to help you change the subject when things go south or think of an interesting piece of information to tell everyone that will lead to a much more positive conversation.
Thinking up or securing some buffers before the drama will help steer the night back in a much more pleasant direction.
Ask for help
If a relative or family member hurt your feelings or said something to bother you during Thanksgiving dinner, chances are, you weren’t the only one affected by that interaction. Hopefully, there will be at least one person you trust or feel safe with at your Thanksgiving table. Sit next to that person and ask them to back you up.
You don’t have to be the bearer of all your relative’s harsh comments. Partner up with someone or invite someone to dinner who understands you and has your back.
Be mindful of your responses
If someone tries to take a jab at you, it will be really tempting to jab back, which has the potential to lead to a big holiday argument.
If you want to avoid the entire holiday going up in flames, start reconsidering how you’ll respond to your mean relatives when they say something aggressive or passive-aggressive.
You can say things like, “Thank you for your concern,” when they try to be patronizing, or “That’s an interesting perspective” when they express an opinion you don’t like.
These responses will let that annoying relative know they’re being heard while also indicating that you are not putting up with their behavior, hopefully prompting them to move on.
Don’t drink too much
I know that when there is any drama during a holiday gathering, I tend to reach for something from the bar to distract me. After all, many people love to get nice and tipsy during the holidays, as it tends to spice up any party.
However, you have to keep in mind that if everyone, including you, overdoes it on the booze, they can become even more aggressive, sloppy, and unfiltered.
So, while yes, a nice glass of wine during Thanksgiving dinner may help take the edge off and taste delicious, don’t overdo it and get too buzzed. You’ll need a more sober mind to remember these other tips, and you don’t want to fuel any fire by making a drunken comment that throws everyone off.
Above all, try your best to focus on the positives this holiday season and not let rude or annoying relatives take the fun out of Thanksgiving. Enjoy the time you have with those you love and appreciate, and you’ll get through it just fine.
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