It’s Christmas Eve! You’re prepping the food, wrapping last-minute gifts and reading through your guest list one last time. All is well until you remember that Auntie Pattie will be there. According to her, your sweet potato pie is too sweet. And then there’s your mother-in-law who never ceases to offer her unsolicited parenting advice. If you’re not careful, these people can make your holiday miserable. Don’t let them! Before your guests start coming over, check out these three ways to prepare yourself when it comes to dealing with difficult in-laws and family members.
1. Think about the bigger picture.
This may be easier said than done, but sometimes, you’ve just got to bite your tongue and remember what the holidays are all about in the first place: family. That means accepting and embracing all your family members for who and what they are because let’s face it: No matter how much the people in our family get on our nerves, we still love them at the end of the day.
2. Find a common thread.
When dealing with someone that you tend to butt heads with a lot, it might be helpful to find something that the both of you can bond over, whether it’s the latest movie or your similar views on politics. By focusing on the things that you both enjoy, you’re less likely to get into it with each other.
3. Don’t react.
As ridiculous as it may seem, there are many people who will purposely try to get under your skin. If you appear to be bothered in any way, all you’re doing is giving that person more of a reason to continue doing what they’re doing. So, the next time your mother-in-law criticizes your cooking or more importantly, your parenting choices, try saying something along the lines of, “Look, you obviously did an excellent job raising [insert your spouse’s name here] and I appreciate your advice, but I know what I’m doing.” Agree to disagree and move on.
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