Avoiding Festive Fall-Outs: Dealing With Relatives This Festive Season

Parties, visiting relatives and family gatherings are all part and parcel of the festive season.  And while it’s always good to see aunts, uncles and cousins that you haven’t seen in ages, sometimes things don’t go according to plan.

Sometimes there are fights, disagreements and tensions start to run high whether it’s between you and one of your extended relatives or you and your parents or your older/younger sibling. The main reason for this is the fact that you’re all cooped up in the same house for an extended period of time and we all know that there’s always a lot emotion involved when it comes to dealing with family member.

So how can you survive the festive season without having a massive falling out with a member of your family? Here are some tips to help you keep your cool.

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Respect is key: Remember, these people are your blood and, as such, you have to always give them a certain level of respect. You may disagree with what someone is saying to you, but instead of attacking them, try to see their point of view.

Think carefully about your reaction and remember, chances are you’ll be stuck under the same roof as this person for the next few days – do you really want to fight with them until New Years?

No matter what they say to you, take a deep breath and spend a second contemplating how you should respond. For the sake of Christmas, it’s probably worth giving a reaction that doesn’t encouraging a massive fight to brew. Keep the peace. Remember – Christmas is only for one week a year.

Pick Your Battles: Again, try to see everything from the other person’s point of view. If your mother is nagging you, chances are she’s only doing it because she cares about you and she’s finding it hard to accept that you’re a grown up now. Likewise, if your older brother is teasing you non-stop, he’s probably just trying to relive how you used to be together as children. Try to remain as calm as possible at all times. If you sense that things are about to explode, just walk away from the situation.

If you sense that things are getting tense, get out of the house for a while

Breaks Are Your Friends: If things are kicking off between two of your family members, try to dissipate any tension by asking one of them if they want to go for a walk. This way you’ll get them away from a potential row and take their mind off things so you’re more likely to have a peaceful evening when you return.

Listen: At holiday gatherings, if someone is antagonising you it’s always best to remain quiet. Do you really want to start a huge fight with them right now? Always think about your reaction. If you can’t think of anything positive to say in return, simply respond with a non-committed: “I can see why you feel that way” and leave it at that.

Seek Solace: If your family is really, honestly, genuinely wrecking your head and you can’t stand to be around them any more seek solace with one of your friends. Ask them if you can pay them a visit or have a night out with the girls. Just remove yourself from the situation. You’ll feel better immediately.

Remember: Christmas is only a few days long and once it’s over, you probably won’t have to see any of your relatives again for another month or two at least.