Most of us have at least one—that relative who’s plain difficult to be around. Whether it’s because they’re argumentative, overly critical, need to be the center of attention or are just generally unpleasant, knowing you’ll have to interact with them can make your Thanksgiving a time of anxiety rather than joy. Luckily, with some preparation, there are steps you can take to make dealing with difficult relatives easier; that way you can spend your Thanksgiving enjoying special time with the relatives you’re happy to see.
- Practice self-care before the big day. Showing up to the Thanksgiving celebration exhausted or emotionally drained will only make worse any difficult conversations you have to endure. Think about what helps you relax. Maybe it’s a spa day, going for a long walk, catching up with friends or just vegging out at home. Whatever helps you feel calm and centered, take some time out for yourself before Thanksgiving. Be sure to get a good night’s sleep beforehand too. You’ll be better able to handle interactions with your more difficult relatives when you’re feeling well rested.
- Prepare for how you’ll respond. Whatever difficult behavior you predict your troublesome relative will exhibit, you’ll be able to handle it more easily if you prepare yourself for it. Have a plan to deflect conversations that could turn into arguments. For example, if your difficult relative brings up politics, plan to say something like, “That’s definitely something to think about,” which neither validates nor counters their argument, before changing the subject. That way you’re not arguing with them; you’re discouraging further discussion on the topic.
- Take a break. If things are getting too heated, find a way to temporarily disengage: play with the kids, go to the bathroom, help out in the kitchen. Give yourself a few moments to breathe, relax and regroup.
- Team up with a friend to be buffers for each other. If you have trouble dealing with a certain relative, chances are you aren’t the only one. Have a pre-Thanksgiving chat with a relative you’re close to who will also be at the Thanksgiving celebration. You can make a plan together to help each other get out of any unpleasant situations. For instance, make an agreement so your friend will step in and say they need your help with food, childcare or a technological problem if you’re getting into an argument with your difficult relative.
- Keep a mindset of gratitude. It is Thanksgiving after all! Keeping a positive outlook on the day and appreciating the quality time with the family members you may not get to see very often will help you handle those more difficult moments. Be thankful for the food, be thankful that you have a family (difficult as some of them may be), and don’t let the tough moments overshadow the joyful ones.
- Ready your departure excuse. This is only an option for people who aren’t hosting the Thanksgiving dinner, but one of the best things you can do to ease your anxiety about having to deal with difficult relatives is to have an exit strategy. Maybe you need to get home to walk your dog, or you’re not feeling well, or you need to get some sleep before Black Friday shopping. Whatever excuse would be the most plausible, have it ready to deploy as a last resort.
No matter who you spend Thanksgiving with this year, your friends at LG Insurance hope you have a day filled with laughter, good food and pleasant company. Cheers!
