How to Survive Your Family Holiday Gathering

It used to be easy planning the holidays. The kids were young, and your parents or in-laws handled the celebrations. All you had to do was show up with a homemade recipe and you were good to go. Then it happens: The kids marry and have children, parents move in with you, your siblings, and spouses siblings, are scattered from one end of the US to the other. One side of the family is outgoing, loud and boisterous while the other side is boring, humorless and quiet. You've been given the helm and have no idea how to steer the boat in the right direction.

A few simple tips and your holiday gathering will run smoothly:

Send invites to all either by snail mail or emails with an RSVP at least 10 days prior to your gathering. Remember you are now inviting two families.

To keep your pressure down, put an entrance fee of "One Homemade Meal" on the invite. This will not only cut own on your work time and allow you the freedom to mingle but...each party will be able to contribute making them a part of the festivities. Women love to hear comments on their special dishes so you can be assured Aunt Martha will bring her best stuffing.

Let go of the sit-down meal. Unless you are of Trump blood you will be serving which will take away from your free time. Make a beautiful buffet table. Place your seating in a comfortable half circle in another room .You will encourage more conversation, your company will be more at ease and the informal atmosphere will generate more conversation

Don't be upset if Aunt Katherine declines. There's always next year. Be courteous, thank her for her response and wish her and her family a happy holiday.

Put aside your feelings towards any family members. Remember you are now the ring leader and it's up to you to keep the family together despite family feuds, misconceptions or otherwise. This isn't the time to bring out animosity.

Don't be afraid to ask for help! One of the best bonding periods between women is in the kitchen. Save a few last minutes details for when your guests arrive. Most women delight in thinking their hostess is not fully prepared and will gladly chip in to keep things running smoothly.

Don't go crazy cleaning your floors. Most females have an obsession with making sure their floors are in eat off of order prior to any gathering. When was the last time you checked out a hostess's floor at a dinner party? Damp mop your floor and leave it be. A clean floor will be in order after the party is over.

Suggest a gift swap game in your invitation. Ask that each guest bring one small, wrapped, gift under $10.00. My favorite holiday swap game is as follows:Each person is given a number. Those numbers are written on paper and placed in a basket. All gifts are placed on a table. The first person picks a number. The person with that number gets to choose their gift first. That person, in turn, draws a number. The person whose number was drawn next has two choices now. They may go to the table and pick a gift OR they may steal a gift from anyone else. That person, then, picks the next number and the person picks gets the same two options. The table or a gift steal. Once all the numbers are drawn you can stop or, if interested you can continue the game. This game generates two things:

Your company is interacting and they are all very interested in who is stealing the gift they brought.
Excess frustration can be gotten rid of by one person stealing from another person for personal reasons.

You holiday dinner and gathering can be a wonderful day if you allow it to be. And maybe, just maybe, you'll want to make it a family tradition after all!

Happy Holidays!