Dysfunctional Relatives Season is fast approaching - are you ready?

[GoFride]

'Tis the season (almost) where we all get to spend time with family members we're not particularly fond of - the monster-in-law, the "I'm richer than you" relative, the constant complainer, the Expert at Everything, and so on. What are your coping tips and suggestions for surviving Thanksgiving dinner? And what about Christmas, when you might see these same folks again?

[KevinK]

Ah yes, the time of year when a few friendly drinks amongst adults leads to a heated political debate in the comfort of family and friends

My tip?....well, I go and hide out in the garage when the storm gets bad

[MasonC2K]

Fortunately all the dysfunctional relatives are cousins I haven't seen in 20 years.

[Newbie39]

Poor some stiff drinks and enjoy. Drinking makes it a lot less stressful.

[L.West]

OMG - and I thought it was just in my family LOL. We always have someone who isn't speaking to someone else. Gotta love family!! I am sooo over it - I often try to bug out of most events - just ain't worth the headache. Sad but true. Especially in a large family such as mine. 7 siblings and add in all the spouses - OMG the drama. LOL

[tttaylorrr]

pour a drink and walk around like you're visiting zoo exhibits. for me it's like this:

spend some time with the Almost-Able-to-Legally-Drink-So-We-Let-Them group and learn about the latest rapper twitter beefs.

walk over to the Drunk Uncles for some football talk and inside jokes you won't understand.

you can go to the kitchen to hang out with the Aunts while they talk about their latest trip and sample the foods before they're ready.

your other aunt who has two kids can be fun if you like young kids or want to get away from everyone.

or hang out with your cousins closest in age and just drink while not really talking to one another but they're cool so it's nice.

hopefully after dinner Drunk Uncle Joe pulls out the guitar so we can sing some rock songs.

by this point i'm drunk and just want to brag about my children (read: snakes). no one wants to listen so i look at photos of them on my phone while drinking.

we go home.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

How do I cope, I don't invite anyone , those are days like any others for me and I hate the hypocrisy of gathering with family you barely see during the year, people who barely care about you (and vice versa) or people you do not really get along with just because they are family or it's a holiday..... is just not something I am into.

[andrewross8705]

I don't see those family members. That's how I deal with the season. Some of my family members throw a fit every year when they know it's not going to change.