Ways to Avoid Arguing with Relatives This Holiday | Win Games from The Op
This post is sponsored by our friends at The Op Games. We only share the things we love and use ourselves. Some links are affiliate links. And you can win games from The Op below!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…
Well, except for all of the arguing and awkward tense silences that are associated with family gatherings.
In our current climate of division, generational divide and strong opinions, it’s wise to come up with some strategies to keep yourself SANE. Here are a few of our favorites:
Set Boundaries
So, I don’t care if you have to post it on a huge board in the middle of the living room or just politely mention it as guests walk in the door but LAY THE GROUD RULES people!
In our house that includes:
- No talk of politics. This isn’t “Meet the Press.”
- No criticism of the food and drink being served.
- And finally, DON’T drink too much – Nothing is worse than seeing Aunt Betty passed out on the couch snoring while Chestnuts by Nat King Cole is playing.
You could also send out a formal contract for people to sign but that might just cause more harm than good.
Laugh it Off
Chances are, you’re going to get insulted by someone at some point, even with a signed contract. Your mother-in-law will have something to say about how you’ve decided to dress your kids – or how they decided to dress themselves. (Who has time to shop for special Christmas outfits that they will just ruin anyway?) You know she’s going to do it. Don’t waste your brain space trying to come up with a witty comeback about how you’ve failed in the kiddie fashion department.
Just laugh.
Laugh in her face and tell her how funny she is. Bless her heart.
Play it off like a joke. She may think you’re crazy (though doesn’t she already?) but it will save you from having to defend yourself.
Have an Escape Plan
Find some reason to have to spend time alone in another room or to leave the premises altogether. Maybe you “forgot” the butter and must run to the only open grocery store 15 miles away.
If you have to, quietly sneak away from the dinner table and hide in a closet upstairs. Closets are safe and calming and no one will bother you for a few minutes.
Keep Yourself REALLY Busy
This is another way of hiding, without actually hiding. It’s genius. Just make yourself the designated maid for the event. There are pots to scrub, food to prepare and put away, even if it’s not your event. This is a great way to avoid an awkward exchange. “Oh, excuse me, I promised Aunt Betty I would help her with the coffee.” No one else really wants to work on a holiday, so you will either come off as a hardworking hostess or a helpful guest. And you’ll be conflict-free.
Play Some Games (and win games from The Op Games!)
I’m not talking about your average game of cards or any run-of-the-mill board game. Two of our favorite interactive and fun games are from The Op Games. These games keep you and your family laughing AND getting along. And both of these games are great for adults and kids to play together.
The award-winning game Telestrations is a sketch, pass and guess game that is fun for all ages. It’s like the game of telephone with drawing, and if you’re terrible at drawing, not to worry, your stick figures and funky drawings will just make the game funnier. Once a full round of play has been completed, each player shares their sketchbook and all the crazy pictures and guesses make everyone laugh.
Blank Slate will keep all of your family members engaged and on their toes. The game includes 250 Word Cue cards with 2 cues on each card. Each player is asked to fill in a word they think best suits the blank on the card. All the players then reveal their guess – match one player you get 3 points, match more than one, you get one point. It is really interesting to see how your family member’s minds work and how much you actually do all think alike sometimes…. or not.
My family and I played both of these games this past Thanksgiving and we had so much fun! We laughed so hard and really bonded. It kept us all from arguing – at least while we were playing. I can’t really speak for the rest of the day, but while we were playing the games, there was total family harmony.
USAoploly wants you to have a ton of fun with your family this holiday, so they are giving away a Big Box of Awesome, full of their games. Enter below!
Win Games from The Op Games
Win a Big Box of Awesome Boardgames from The Op Games
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- Why does Christmas come so DAMN EARLY? A RANT! - October 16, 2018
12:56 pm
Whee! I love board games!
2:12 pm
We really enjoy playing board games on our Family game nights with our grandson. We share lots of laughs while bonding having lots of fun & keeping us all away from screen time!
11:16 am
what a wonderful collection of games for the whole family to get involved and enjoy, kids can learn trivia, etc. fun for all
5:21 pm
100% family holidays can be pure chaos!! Our family has always played games! It’s fun, and everyone can join in! Definitely reduces the chances are any old skeletons from coming out of the closet! Game time is always fun time! Love this so much! Thanks for the chance, and the post that made me giggle!
6:56 pm
I love playing board games with my nieces. Great advice on the holidays -I try to laugh it off when I’m told to dye my hair to cover the grey.
7:02 pm
I WANT WIN 😉
3:33 pm
I love board games!
4:47 pm
I love a night of playing board games and away from the tablets and T.V..
5:09 pm
We do Sunday games here so this would be great.. Loving your sites and pages.. some things are just hilarious my husband wonders what I am laughing at lol
6:03 pm
We have family game night often. This would be fun to check out.
7:14 pm
i love board games and to play them with my family and friends
7:41 pm
Fun contest! Love playing games!
5:49 am
We actually are a family that plays games at Holidays, birthday parties, cookouts. These are awesome games
6:33 am
Would be a fun addition to the board games we play on family night.
6:56 am
I love this. I could have used these tips for the holidays lol. We love family game night !
7:50 am
would love to win, our family loves family game night!! thanks for the chance
10:41 am
Our family are huge board game fans. Most holidays we all sit around laughing and playing a few different games. Thanks for the chance.
1:02 pm
My granddaughter would love these board games
1:22 pm
This looks like a lot of fun!
7:22 pm
My family loves board games!
11:35 pm
A couple of my favorite games are here in this package Rosanne
8:35 am
My family and I love to play board games 🙂
3:46 pm
I love your escape plans. We always have one on deck too like have to get home and let the dog out.
7:39 am
We have game night once a week. This would be awesome
12:45 pm
Board games are the best! And it can also save things if they are getting tense too, just make it so you don’t have to team up with the annoying person!
7:34 pm
Board Games are great family time.
8:36 pm
We all really enjoy our family game nights.
4:12 pm
This would be great for our family, love playing games and go to my Mom’s to play them some weekends as well!
8:26 pm
We absolutely love board games here and this would be awesome for game night!!
11:48 am
The kids love playing board games and this would be awesome!!
10:20 am
We would like to win this!
10:28 am
Love this! Board Games brings our family together! Thanks for the opportunity!
12:31 pm
This would be cool to win!
4:16 pm
Thanks so much for the chance 🙂
10:44 pm
Family game night is so much fun!