For the Sake of the Relationship, Shut Up

Dealing with (Difficult) Family Members

I used to envy people who (seemingly) got along so well with their family members.

I say I used to envy them because now I know better: every family has their issue(s).

There is no such thing as a perfect family, but for me, the closest thing to perfection is a reduction of problematic communication.

It is not easy or always smooth sailing, but it can be done.

You can go to that family wedding and see your too nosey cousin and get through it, without a snide remark.

You can go home for Christmas, without having a full out brawl with a sibling over who knows what, that happened god knows how long ago.

You can go on that road trip with only blood-related relatives and come back unscathed, but it takes work and a commitment to want it to work.

The secret to successful family visits is shutting (the fuck) up.

Not every comment made by so and so needs a rebuttal and you do not need to be an advocate to correct each and every…