Gift Basket Idea Tips For Holiday Family Conflict

Holiday Family Conflict – When “Just Get Over It,” Isn’t An Option!

Family Conflict At Holiday Time – 16 Ways To Cope:

1 - Share the love with every family member and rotate holiday hosting so you don’t get stuck with it every year.

2 - Volunteer to be the holiday story teller for the kids table and choose something you can laugh about – “How the Grinch Stole Christmas, . . . ” (for example)!

3 - Rotate family too – With couples, go to Thanksgiving and December festivities on alternating years so you aren’t always spending one year of holidays at one family – For instance go to Thanksgiving with one side of the family and in that same year go to December holidays with the other side of the family – then switch the following year.

4 - Stay home and be the holiday host yourself.

5 - Learn how to bite your tongue and fight fair – you have one mouth and two ears. Always use them in proportion in any argument. Who really wins a fight anyway – Nobody. But the honest fact remains, there still may be some conflict – Deal with it.

6 - Forget about the holidays – Skip them altogether and don’t go. Sometimes there is such a thing as, “too much stress,” with a family member.

7 - Celebrate with friends instead. Sometimes friends ARE your family.

8 - Stay away from topics of conversation that cause stress and that you know are sensitive issues or areas.

9 - Accept the fact that you cannot change people. They are who they are and you are not in control of that. Now, move on. Use bribery if you have to – take a special gift basket with you!

10 - Focus on how you respond to comments. Count to three before you respond and smile before you say one single thing. Do not verbally vomit all over people.

11 - Find the one thing about the person you have an issue with that you love (or like – How about appreciate!) about them and instead of thinking about their spike arm tattoo that you hate, think about how they do or did something that you liked, or that made you laugh – Changing your thoughts changes your response and that changes your relationship dynamics and gives you a chance to have a good (better, okay) time.

12 - Be a better listener than you are a complainer – Yes, Y O U!

13 - Walk away from the immediate area if you feel like you are drowning (Or are ready to stab somebody in the eye). Politely is best – Really!

14 - Take self responsibility for the part you play to keep the conflict going. Be Grown up enough to let it go and make amends for the sake of your own sanity.

15 - Get some help if you need it – Either enlist the help of a good friend who listens well and has good advice or get professional help. Holding stress on the inside is only good for a stroke or a heart condition and add ulcers and nervous stomach to that too!

16 - R E S P E C T Yourself.