We all have them – an obnoxious uncle, a cousin without a verbal filter, a parent who’s an enabler, a sibling who can’t let go of that grudge from ten years ago. Family dynamics are among the most complicated relationships we will experience in our lives. Some of us want to keep the holidays as they were when we grew up, which means maintaining peace at all costs and being around people who might activate our frustration or push political buttons.

For others, the holidays are foreboding seasons that weigh upon their hearts with difficult decisions about who, or even whether, to see this year. Most of us don’t want to hurt or disappoint our families of origin, but we may be in a fragile emotional state right now. That’s important to acknowledge, too. …

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