Happy Easter, everyone! This year, I went to visit some of my family that lives in New Orleans. I love getting the opportunity to visit my family, as I don’t get to see them very often. But…as I’m sure you know, you can’t live with them and you can’t live without them. After a few days of family bonding, it is easy to get cranky with your loved ones. Below I have compiled a few easy ways to keep your cool when your favorite family member starts working your nerves. Come check ’em out and make sure to leave me a comment below!
1. Try to keep that family gossip to a minimum! Everybody likes gossip, but nobody likes the gossiper. It is easy to tell one family member the dirt on someone else when they are getting on your last nerve. Just remember that you may only get a few chances a year to see these people. You don’t want them to remember that all you did was talk about them while you were in town!
2. Make sure to be as tidy as possible when visiting family, especially if you are staying at their house. Some people like to keep their house very orderly, while some people are more relaxed. My advice is to err on the side of caution in this realm, as you don’t want to be known as the messy houseguest! Some good things to do to impress your family are: make the bed each morning, put away your clothes from the night before, and keep your belongings in one area.
3. If you are visiting over a holiday and there will be a home cooked meal, you should definitely remember to offer a helping hand. It is a lot of work to shop for groceries and cook for many people, not to mention the clean up effort after the meal. Offer to bring a dish or purchase a dessert at the store. If that isn’t possible, then make sure to assist in clearing the table and washing the dishes. This is a definite way to make a good impression, especially if you might be visiting the family of your significant other!
4. Stay off those electronic devices! I know they are so lovely and especially tempting as an escape from awkward family interrogation sessions, but just forget them! You are visiting family to spend time with them, not to catch up on the latest celebrity gossip or your e-mails. Take a little time for some much needed R&R and enjoy that special family time!
Family is great to be around, but it is easy to get aggitated after several full days of family love! What do you do to keep the peace when you are visiting family? Leave me a comment and let me know your tips and tricks for a happy visit to family!
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