Survive Your Relatives; Holiday Checklist

1. When Uncle Abe or Aunt Agnes tells the same old story they tell every year, remember to smile and say, “I do so enjoy your retelling of that story.”
2. When mother/father-in-law tells you, for the 734^th time, that you are doing (you fill in the blank) wrong. Smile and say, “It would be a huge help to me if you could take over (you fill in the blank).” That would allow me to focus more on… (you fill in the blank)
3. I know your spouse’s sibling’s kids drive you crazy. They are ill-mannered, rude, sloppy little pigs. And your point is? Come on, you know what to do. Put anything remotely of value in the closet for their visit. Scotchguard® your carpet and set up an appointment for the carpet cleaners to come after the holidays. And remember, when you were a kid, you might not have been perfect either. The adrenaline level of kids during the holidays peaks to all time highs. Make sure you have some activities planned to help them drain some of the hyper-energy.
4. Your sweetie is just as stressed as you are during the holidays, especially if it is their relatives coming for a visit. Do your best to give them space, support, and understanding as they attempt to juggle the impossible—all of them, and you!
5. Gift receiving can be sticky so…look admiringly at that awful tie or ugly night gown and remember that you can always donate it to the Goodwill. Give the giver your gift of graciousness and appreciation, no matter how repugnant the gift.
6. Remember that holiday coping mechanisms are not proof positive that you are a passive-aggressive doormat, but rather a nice gesture to help everyone enjoy the holidays together. I have a brother-in-law that I love and respect. Yet, there is no counter point discussion possible with him. Things are fine as long as I understand his perspective, and agree. Guess what? I get to travel the world, and organizations all around the globe pay me to share my perspective. So really, smiling and giving this man an audience is truly no big deal. I’ll admit, I thought much differently when I was younger. A smile and a bit of tolerance will go a long way in making your holidays bright.