1. Get a room: Sure, spending a long weekend squeezed into your parent’s house with your siblings and their families might seem like it would make for fun-filled walks down memory lane, but you’ll probably just end up being reminded about all the things that annoyed you about them when you were kids; like the fact that they take super-long showers that use up all the hot water, or they insist on watching nothing but football, loudly, 24 hours a day, or that they put dibs on the queen-sized bed in your old room because (they claim) they have back problems that the pullout in the den will only make worse. If you can afford it, save your sanity (not to mention your back) and get a hotel room. You won’t have to share a shower with 10 other people, you won’t have to sleep on the couch, and it will give your significant other a much-needed break from your over-bearing parents.
2. Make a game plan: Holidays can wreak havoc on any diet. It seems like every gathering is centered on food – and not the healthiest of food at that (cocktail weenies and cheesecake sampler, we’re talking to you). Celebrating the holidays as a couple is a great way to meet each other’s family, but it can also be a great way to end up with a stomach ache. Before heading out on your holiday visits, make sure you have a game plan for how you’re going to handle meals and share it with everyone involved. You might decide to have dinner with one family and dessert with another. It’s important to let your families know what your expectations are, so that way your Aunt Mildred doesn’t insist that you eat a second helping of her green bean casserole or your mom doesn’t force a piece of pie on you. Communicating early on will not only ward off hurt feelings, but it might also help your family plan the day better.
3. Be a melting pot: If you’re the lucky person who gets to host both your relatives and your significant other’s family, make sure to blend in traditions from both sides. Use your mom’s recipe for dressing and his aunt’s recipe for apple pie (better yet, make it a pot luck where members of both families bring their signature dishes). Ask someone from your side to say the blessing and someone from his side to cut the turkey. Discuss with your significant other beforehand what traditions are most important to his or her family, than find ways to incorporate yours. While you’re at it, try adding a new tradition that’s solely your own to make the holiday special for you and your beloved. Again, communication is key when navigating this tricky holiday territory, so make sure to have an open discussion with your partner and his or her family if need be.
About the Author: This is a Guest Post by Susan Price who blogs about travel related subjects such as cheap flights.
Photo Credit : Juliaf
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