Holidays are meant to be a time of happiness, but the downside of celebrations on Thanksgiving and other holidays is that they can also lead to dinner table fights as members of the extended family, who often don't see each that much, gather together. In an effort to help keep the peace at your Thanksgiving dinner, the Mother Nature Network blog is offering some tips:
- Stay away from controversial topics -- Not only the obvious ones, like politics and religion, but family issues that are a source of friction too.
- Accept criticism gracefully -- When your grandmother bugs you about losing weight or your brother says you should buy a better house, think of this: "Though these people might not express themselves in the most graceful way, they love you and this is their way of showing it."
- Volunteer on Thanksgiving Day -- Before you get together with your family for dinner, volunteer at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen, which will help give you a better perspective on your Thanksgiving meal and turn it into something you'll truly enjoy.
- Seat strategically -- If you're hosting the dinner, trying to arrange seating to avoid potential conflicts.
- Leave early -- There's no reason you have to stay all day. Spend a couple of hours with the family and then go home.
The final piece of advice: "Remember that Thanksgiving happens once a year, so try to look around the table and appreciate your sometimes quirky, and sometimes disconcerting family."
