I know a lot of us are getting ready to see some relatives for the holiday, albeit under very different circumstances than normal. Right now, it is on a lot of people’s minds: How are we going to structure the day in a way that makes it safe for everyone? For those of you who are not accustomed to having ideological differences with your extended family, I’m your gal! I have a lifetime’s worth of experience negotiating conversations just like this one.
Here are a few DO’S and DONT’S- Do NOT bring politics into the conversation. We don’t want this to be a broad conversation. Rather, the discussion about Thanksgiving day should be very narrowly focused.
- DO show softness in your approach, while telling them what your stated desired outcome is. For example: “I would love for none of us to accidentally transmit the virus to each other, so that we can all walk away healthy.” That is a lovely thing to say, and it gives you an end goal in mind to work towards.
- DO make requests (NOT demands). I’ll teach you a little therapist trick. If you say something as a question, it’s often more palatable for the other person. Instead of saying “I want us to eat outside”, you can say “What would you think of us eating outside?” This makes it a bit easier for them to digest.
Regardless of what you have planned, stay safe everyone. Happy Thanksgiving!
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