How to Survive a Family Reunion
You know you can’t choose your family. You can surround yourself with friends that share your common interests and agree with you on the issues of the day, but your family is not your creation. They are what you are born into whether you have anything in common with them or not. Some of your family members will be like your friends; you will share interests and be able to discuss issues calmly. Then there are other members of the family that drive you straight up the wall.
So here’s what I suggest. Find those members of your family with which you share interests. Stick by their side and form an alliance. When the member of the family that drives you up the wall starts to behave in their annoying way you will have a support system around you. Chances are if you are annoyed, they are too. I have used this technique with my own family. My oldest sister is a very nice person, but she is into self-promotion in a big way. Always telling stories that lead you to one conclusion, she is the most wonderful human being in the world.
After listening to these stories you may wonder why she has not been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. You may have just received a great promotion at work or met a great guy, but she will top you every time. My middle sister is my ally. While it may not be very nice, we have each other to lean on during these endless stories. Our eyes will meet during one of big sisters speeches and we will know exactly what the other is thinking. It never fails to bring a smile to our faces, knowing the other is feeling the same pain.
Remember, family reunions usually do not happen all the time. It is only necessary that you come up with ways to survive them a few times a year. So put on your happy face, find your partners in pain and try to enjoy a few hours with your family.
Tags: Smile, Peace, Family Member, Parenting, Nobel Peace Prize, Faces, Mold
