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5 Tricks for Dealing with Difficult Relatives

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The halls are decked, and the holiday season is upon us. For the majority of us that means family gatherings -- and plenty of them. Sadly, nothing can suck the life out of a party like contending with difficult relatives.

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In some instances, it can be enough to make anybody dread the holidays and make an already stressful time even more difficult. The good news is there are plenty of ways to handle the situation without letting the family drama break you and sour your holidays. For starters, realize that you aren't alone. Everybody has their cross -- or crosses -- to bear with relatives. So don't think you're alone. If it's a really unbearable situation, remember "the more, the merrier." Invite others to lessen the tension and serve as a buffer. Avoid conversations that are likely to implode. Stick to safe topics such as the weather or the kids. However, if discussing the children provokes an argument, make that topic off limits.