10 Family Holiday Headaches & 10 Traditions That Make It Worth It
Families can't avoid headaches during the holidays, but there are good reasons why they're still worth celebrating together.
- Cyra Sanchez
- 7 min read
Holidays can quickly become headaches, especially when plans don’t go as expected. However, there are reasons why they’re still worth celebrating with your family. So what are these holiday struggles every family might face? Surprise yourself with these 10 common family holiday headaches and 10 positive traditions that make them worth it.
1. Bringing up past arguments
Yan Krukau on Pexels
Bringing up a sour topic at a family gathering is a common scenario no matter what year we live. Your family may think nothing of it, but it could make you feel humiliated. With so many conversations to have, your family deliberately picked one that can attack your feelings, and that isn’t okay.
2. Making decisions on your own
Leeloo The First on Pexels
You may feel like you’re in charge of planning whenever there’s a holiday event going on; while it’s good to have a reliable leader, it can be unhealthy at some point. For example, your partner may feel like you don’t trust them and their opinions aren’t valuable to you. So before deciding things by yourself, make it a habit to ask everyone else’s thoughts, including the children’s.
3. Failing to handle your children
Kindel Media on Pexels
Misbehaving children during family holidays is a common headache; on the other hand, teenagers or young adults may also cause problems if they feel like they don’t belong. That’s why it’s essential to make plans that suit everyone’s taste, regardless of age.
4. Being too intrusive
fauxels on Pexels
If your family holidays include having other relatives over, some of your aunts and uncles are bound to ask intrusive questions. Sometimes, even your parents or grandparents may ask pushy questions, too. This might ruin the mood and leave you secretly upset; it’s never a pleasant experience to deal with nosy relatives.
5. Expecting every plan to go perfectly
Mizuno K on Pexels
Unmet expectations happen frequently during family holidays, too. However, this isn’t always an excuse to lose control of your emotions and affect everyone else’s mood. If you can turn the tide, you should grab the chance and find a way to keep the holiday spirit.
6. Letting envy influence your thoughts
Brett Jordan on Pexels
During family gatherings, feelings of envy may arise when you compare your family with others; sometimes, you may meet your cousins or close friends who might share their success stories with you. This could create dissatisfaction in your mind, lingering throughout the holidays. Before it consumes you, let go of envy and learn to appreciate what you have instead.
7. Poor planning
Kampus Production on Pexels
When things don’t go well due to poor planning, everyone else might get a headache. This could ruin the whole holiday experience but can also be used as a learning opportunity. Always prepare for possible bumps on the road, and be ready to turn things around when challenges come your way.
8. Forcing social interactions
Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels
When there’s a huge family gathering, it’s expected to meet relatives you may not get along with very well. The mature thing to do is to avoid the conflict, but when your family keeps trying to force you to interact, things can go south very quickly. The same thing can be said for children who may have social anxiety — forcing them to socialize with relatives will only push them back further into their shells.
9. Spending too much
Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels
Getting carried away during family holidays happens often. This includes spending more money than necessary, like buying too much food or preparing too many decorations. Not only will this give you a headache during the holiday, but your bank accounts might also have one. Rather than dwelling on this budgeting error, the best thing to do is enjoy what you paid for to the fullest.
10. Putting pressure on family members
SHVETS production on Pexels
“Have you been promoted yet?” “When will you get married?” “When will you have kids?” are common questions at family holidays. The pressure alone can give you a headache, especially if they accidentally touch on a sensitive topic in your life.
These stressful scenarios aside, family gatherings still have good things to offer. Here are 10 traditions that make family holidays worth the trouble.
1. You can catch up on each other’s lives
RDNE Stock project on Pexels
Friends are there to update you on your life, but how often do you stay in touch with your family? Holidays are the perfect time to catch up with your favorite relatives, your siblings, and your parents or grandparents. When you’re all grown up, time goes by quickly, so don’t miss out on the chance to enjoy the holidays with your family.
2. Your family can express their support
August de Richelieu on Pexels
There are times when you might keep your troubles to yourself and make silent plans that no one else knows about. However, this may leave you feeling alone with no support behind your back. That’s why family holidays should be your chance to tell your family about your goals and watch them express their support; sometimes, a little “good luck” and “I’m proud of you” is all you need to regain all the confidence in the world.
3. Children can bond with their relatives
Michael Morse on Pexels
Letting your children form new connections and socialize with relatives can go a long way in building their character. This gives them the confidence that they have a healthy, loving family who’s always happy to be in their presence. At the same time, they can be closer to other kids their age, allowing them to find companions with whom to share young adventures.
4. Celebrate your accomplishments together
cottonbro studio on Pexels
Family holidays are where you can proudly share every milestone you reach; it’s not about bragging but celebrating your victories together. It will make you feel ten times happier seeing your loved ones sharing your joy. At the same time, you can raise a toast to look forward to more celebrations in the future.
5. You’ll have new happy memories to share
August de Richelieu on Pexels
During family holidays, you can leave behind unhappy memories from the past and start creating new, happy memories together. This is the perfect time to explore new adventures or have a meaningful conversation that will spark positivity. Your brand-new memories will help deepen your connection, essential to make your family bonds last forever.
6. Finding inspiration in one another
Alexy Almond on Pexels
Rather than envy, you’ll find inspiration from your family or other relatives when you hear about their successful stories. These holidays are meant to bring positivity to everyone, so let go of any feelings of envy. Once you embrace this mindset, you’ll look forward to family holidays even more.
7. Strengthens your bond
Askar Abayev on Pexels
During family holidays, you’re bound to face troubles along the way. This is where your trust and teamwork will be tested, so use it as a chance to strengthen your bond. By overcoming the struggles together, the holidays will feel more like a reward to enjoy with your family.
8. You won’t feel alone anymore
Photo By: Kaboompics.com on Pexels
If you’ve been keeping things to yourself or you no longer spend time around your family, you may feel alone, which can lead to sadness or loneliness. Use the family holidays as a chance to reach out to loved ones and open up about your burdens. You don’t have to carry the weight alone; rely on your family and make the holidays worthwhile.
9. You have a valid reason to treat yourself
Nicole Michalou on Pexels
Managing finances is crucial, but so is keeping yourself happy and satisfied. If you’ve been too rigid with yourself or strict with your family’s expenses, the holidays can relieve you. It’s the perfect chance to reward your family and spend a little more than usual if you can; the smiles on your family’s faces will make it worth every penny.
10. You’ll find ways to motivate and uplift each other
Nicole Michalou on Pexels
Instead of letting family pressure ruin your holiday, turn things around by starting positive conversations. Talk about your dreams, goals, and plans to achieve them soon. Start motivating your family and uplifting them to encourage them to do the same; sometimes, you only need a little boost to make the holidays feel positive again.