“Ugh! my family is so…"

Are your holiday hangouts dragging you down? Don’t go Grinch just yet, because we’re solving your stressiest fam sitches.

- By Katherine Hammer

OK, to say it: Though every household has its ups and downs, it's 100 percent valid to sometimes get furiously frustrated, impeccably irritated and downright disappointed with the people around you. (Yep, take that as total permission to feel *all* your feels rn.)

Our gift to you? Breaking down these daunting holiday dynamics so you can get back to being a fa-la-la family again.

...Strict!”

SITCH: Your dad swore you could get TikTok on your 13th birthday...then raised it to 15.

Grams won't let you show up to dinner without a turtleneck and tights (and not the cute kind). The worst? Your gifts under the tree amount to test prep workbooks and freshly sharpened pencils.

SOLVED: Try using holiday break as a rules refresh. Schedule a formal meeting to ask for the reasoning behind all the regulations—then really listen to the answers before launching your rebuttal. Compromise means winning some (30 minutes of TikTok time as a brain break) and losing others (yeah, you're still rocking that fit to Christmas dinner).

Standing your ground without being too stubborn is the goal.

...Selfish!

SITCH: You and your big bro used to be inseparable...that is, until he went off to college in August. Now he's home for break, and instead of jumping back into your treasured traditions (Caroling! Cookie baking!), he only wants to hang out-solo-with the shiny new GF who came back with him.