29/11: Ho Ho ……..Ho dear, another Christmas conflict
I often wonder why Christmas isn’t just like you see in those feel good movies running up to the big important day of the year. Well at least the ones with the happy endings where suddenly everyone is overtaken with the warmth and cheer of Christmas.
If you’re reading this, then you’re probably thinking, yeah that’s not my family. I often think the problem with Christmas is all the expectation that leads up to it. We surrounded by it, even if you’ve kept it to a minimum at home, just go down to your local shopping centre. The big day is often a big let down. Simply Christmas is often people put together who may well dislike each other in often a claustrophobic proximity. Family get togethers can often simply remind us how little in common we have and when we don’t have that distance even the most minor misunderstandings and irritations quickly can get out of hand.
It’s partly because people revert to what they know, their old ways and habits. Moving on or changing, the old forgive and forget mentality can be hard to overcome.
Well try these few ideas and may your festive season be one you can get through;
Try not drinking all day. Apart from feeling rather awful, it more than often will lead to arguments and worse.
If something is bothering you, let it go. Does it really matter that much? If you can imagine the permanent loss of these people who share your life, it will put things into perspective for you.
Try and help out or take turns cooking in teams. If you’ve never been in charge of preparing a meal, here’s your chance (the shock alone should cause people to forget all else going on)
Try to share at least one simple activity as a group, such as a short walk in the area
If your family is not together turn negatives into positives by saying; “We’ll have two of everything.”
Try and surprise people by not being who they expected on the day (step outside the box)
Invent a new ritual each year e.g. everybody reads out something inspirational about someone else in the group or even a joke (at a certain pre-ordained time)
Ask questions of each other. It’s easy for the meals to be over with no proper talk. Try to think of members of your family as people you’ve just met and need to get to know
The good news is, come January we can look forward to all the local supermarkets stocking up with Easter eggs again.•
Item viewed: 3385 times
If you’re reading this, then you’re probably thinking, yeah that’s not my family. I often think the problem with Christmas is all the expectation that leads up to it. We surrounded by it, even if you’ve kept it to a minimum at home, just go down to your local shopping centre. The big day is often a big let down. Simply Christmas is often people put together who may well dislike each other in often a claustrophobic proximity. Family get togethers can often simply remind us how little in common we have and when we don’t have that distance even the most minor misunderstandings and irritations quickly can get out of hand.
It’s partly because people revert to what they know, their old ways and habits. Moving on or changing, the old forgive and forget mentality can be hard to overcome.
Well try these few ideas and may your festive season be one you can get through;
Try not drinking all day. Apart from feeling rather awful, it more than often will lead to arguments and worse.
If something is bothering you, let it go. Does it really matter that much? If you can imagine the permanent loss of these people who share your life, it will put things into perspective for you.
Try and help out or take turns cooking in teams. If you’ve never been in charge of preparing a meal, here’s your chance (the shock alone should cause people to forget all else going on)
Try to share at least one simple activity as a group, such as a short walk in the area
If your family is not together turn negatives into positives by saying; “We’ll have two of everything.”
Try and surprise people by not being who they expected on the day (step outside the box)
Invent a new ritual each year e.g. everybody reads out something inspirational about someone else in the group or even a joke (at a certain pre-ordained time)
Ask questions of each other. It’s easy for the meals to be over with no proper talk. Try to think of members of your family as people you’ve just met and need to get to know
The good news is, come January we can look forward to all the local supermarkets stocking up with Easter eggs again.•
Item viewed: 3385 times
