At this very moment, you may be decking the halls with boughs of holly. But when it comes to family, the festive season is often the very opposite of ‘jolly’.
Tension can soar as celebrating with our nearest and dearest brings bad feelings to the surface and then to the boil. Here are five common festive family flashpoints, and our essential survival tips.
1 Behaviour battles
Relatives descend for the holidays, and suddenly everything’s under the critical microscope – particularly how young ones behave. But whether you’re outraged that your teenagers’ manners are being criticised, or panicked that your grandkids are running riot, stay calm. The festive season isn’t the time to make a stand so, however, tempted, for a few days, don’t try to either enforce or defend your own codes. Instead, give old and young enough separate space that they don’t lose patience, but enough time together that they find common ground and mutual appreciation.
2 Hosting hassles
The classic question ‘who do we spend Christmas with?’ can create huge family tension. The issues here aren’t just the practical ones of who hosts, who visits, who does the Christmas Eve motorway drive, but the meaning of the get-togethers themselves.
Denne historien er fra December 24, 2019-utgaven av WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 24, 2019-utgaven av WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Patchwork PROJECTS
Easy ideas to show off English paper-piecing techniques
Night train to BERLIN
Germany's exciting and varied capital is now reachable by train from the UK
French FANCY
Raymond Blanc's right-hand man, Benoit Blin's favourite bakes
Are you missing out on BENEFITS?
Here's how to find out what you are eligible for
TRAY bien
All-in-one tray bakes, packed with flavour
We took a grown-up GAP YEAR!
Who says taking time out is just for students?
'I'm obsessed with reality TV!'
THIS WEEK'S COLUMNIST Author and presenter Louise Minchin
What to eat and do for A HEALTHIER GUT
Fix those problems and boost your wellbeing
Picture palaces
In an age of cinema complexes, we celebrate five historic and beautiful picture houses that have stood the test of time
'My diet during Bake Off is cake and alcohol!'
Dame Prue Leith on the popular baking contest