What are your tips to surviving family during the holidays?
#1
1) Mentally prepare yourself for what you know will happen and Que Sera Sera the rest of it. Que Sera Sera - What will be will be. You're never going to predict everything but if you have those family members who are going to grill you about Job/School/Being unmarried/Why no kids? Start coming up with talking points around it. Basically why aren't you married yet? That was rude, . Usually if you can get them talking about themselves it makes your life easier.
2) Pick a defensible position. Corner, next to your favorite cousin where you'll actually have fun, or by a family pet if you're not a people person. Have an exit strategy and at least one way to exit where you're at. It helps.
3) Unless it's your house or you rode in with someone - you can leave whenever you want. There's no law written in stone you must stay for the full duration of the event. You can come up with about 50 things to get you out of there early.
4) Hang out with your favorite people. Seriously will make this the easiest. If you don't have a favorite pick someone who will be an ally for the day/weekend/whatever. No law stipulates that you can't just sit with someone most of the event.
5) Being polite goes a long way. That doesn't mean don't stand up for yourself if you have that nasty relative that most people do. You can politely tell someone to extract the rod from their exterior. I've always found it easier to be polite because it leaves no room for someone to go after me. That being said I don't get stepped on most of my familia has learned this the hard way.
1point