Keeping your family happy
It is not always easy to keep your family happy during the holidays, especially if it is spread out across the country the way mine is. The closest family I have, other than my parents, is my brother up in Houston. My family is spread from Lubbock Texas, to Benton Illinois; I even have a few family members up in New York. Planning family events during the holidays is not fun for us. The side of the family that is not visited that year for thanksgiving or Christmas is always asking why, or what’s the problem, when there really is no reason for picking one over the other. No matter what is decided, someone is going to be upset or disappointed.
Some of the things that I have found over the years that can help are:
Alternate what holidays you see each side of the family
Let the family know that the next year you will be spending that holiday with the other side of the family
Invite both sides of the family to your place for the holidays
Tell them that you already have other commitments and don’t want to disappoint them by backing out
If all else fails, just say you have work
By alternating what side of the family you see each holiday, you never miss seeing everybody two years in a row for that holiday. Inviting everybody to your place is a good way to satisfy both sides of the family, that is if you have the proper facilities and they will get along with one another. Telling your family you have to work, even if you don’t, is one way to avoid this problem all together. Nobody should question you if you say you have to work, it is your job and how you pay your bills. It may seem rude or mean, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do to avoid these stressful situations.
It is not always easy to keep your family happy during the holidays, especially if it is spread out across the country the way mine is. The closest family I have, other than my parents, is my brother up in Houston. My family is spread from Lubbock Texas, to Benton Illinois; I even have a few family members up in New York. Planning family events during the holidays is not fun for us. The side of the family that is not visited that year for thanksgiving or Christmas is always asking why, or what’s the problem, when there really is no reason for picking one over the other. No matter what is decided, someone is going to be upset or disappointed.
Some of the things that I have found over the years that can help are:
Alternate what holidays you see each side of the family
Let the family know that the next year you will be spending that holiday with the other side of the family
Invite both sides of the family to your place for the holidays
Tell them that you already have other commitments and don’t want to disappoint them by backing out
If all else fails, just say you have work
By alternating what side of the family you see each holiday, you never miss seeing everybody two years in a row for that holiday. Inviting everybody to your place is a good way to satisfy both sides of the family, that is if you have the proper facilities and they will get along with one another. Telling your family you have to work, even if you don’t, is one way to avoid this problem all together. Nobody should question you if you say you have to work, it is your job and how you pay your bills. It may seem rude or mean, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do to avoid these stressful situations.
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