How do you get through family events that you dread?

[Anonymous]

Crystal meth. You can snort it in the bathroom.

[Anonymous]

No, OP, you do not have to go to his house. You are an adult and you get to choose where you go and with whom You spend your time. If you are miserable being with him and his fsmily, DON' T GO.

[Anonymous]

You behave like an adult just like you hopefully would in any other setting. Why must people revert to behaving like children simply because they are in a family situation--theirs or the in-laws.?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've found I can fit almost a full bottle of wine in a colored water bottle- hubby and I share

Totally disrespectful and not at all funny to do this in a household that abstains. You would go batshit crazy if someone came in to your home and disrespected the rules of your home. Not at all funny.

[Anonymous]

I don't anymore.

I just say no.

I have heard enough about republicans and horse collecting and bonuses and retirement plans and luxury trips to last me a lifetime.

[Anonymous]

My cousin and I played a game. We had a flask and we'd see how long it took the rest of the room to discover we were drunk. After the first few family gatherings my 95 year old grandmother caught on and egged it on.

So, undercover drinking and find yourself a buddy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've found I can fit almost a full bottle of wine in a colored water bottle- hubby and I share

Totally disrespectful and not at all funny to do this in a household that abstains. You would go batshit crazy if someone came in to your home and disrespected the rules of your home. Not at all funny.

Ummm, but the crystal meth and flask are okay? Lighten up- it was a joke!

[Anonymous]

I take mental notes of the ridiculous comments and occurrences and save it for a hilarious story to tell someone (mom, husband, friends) later. It helps to get through it knowing you can share it later and laugh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I take mental notes of the ridiculous comments and occurrences and save it for a hilarious story to tell someone (mom, husband, friends) later. It helps to get through it knowing you can share it later and laugh

Agree with this--we had an unofficial "most dsyfunctional holidays" contest in our office. Sadly, I won one year.

The next year my coworker's brother-in-law received a gun as a present from the in laws and tried to shoot them after getting liquored up, and that pretty much beat out everyone. Moral of the story: just try to get through it, save the funny stories and, if there are firearms, don't bring the flask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Make up a game in which you pay yourself. Ie. "Every time Aunt Myrtle mentions something she saw on Fox News, I get a dollar." Then take that money and buy yourself something, even if it is just some ice cream.

I mentally play a game called A$$h*le Bingo from law school: count every time the class sycophant says something to appease the teacher and when the number gets to 5, say "Bingo" in a sentence. I only play mentally at family gatherings, but who knows? Maybe you can try it IRL and Aunt Myrtle won't notice.

+1

I am using this one. I bet if I actually shout out, "bingo!", BIL will keep talking.

[Anonymous]

Pre-game; it's the only way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Make up a game in which you pay yourself. Ie. "Every time Aunt Myrtle mentions something she saw on Fox News, I get a dollar." Then take that money and buy yourself something, even if it is just some ice cream.

I mentally play a game called A$$h*le Bingo from law school: count every time the class sycophant says something to appease the teacher and when the number gets to 5, say "Bingo" in a sentence. I only play mentally at family gatherings, but who knows? Maybe you can try it IRL and Aunt Myrtle won't notice.

+1

I am using this one. I bet if I actually shout out, "bingo!", BIL will keep talking.

Now I'm almost sad (almost, but not really) we aren't spending Xmas with my inlaws. I can just see blurting out "BINGO!" while my SIL just keeps prattling on and on and on and on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I take mental notes of the ridiculous comments and occurrences and save it for a hilarious story to tell someone (mom, husband, friends) later. It helps to get through it knowing you can share it later and laugh

Agree with this--we had an unofficial "most dsyfunctional holidays" contest in our office. Sadly, I won one year.

The next year my coworker's brother-in-law received a gun as a present from the in laws and tried to shoot them after getting liquored up, and that pretty much beat out everyone. Moral of the story: just try to get through it, save the funny stories and, if there are firearms, don't bring the flask.

You win. And please share your story that got dethroned by the almost-murder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You behave like an adult just like you hopefully would in any other setting. Why must people revert to behaving like children simply because they are in a family situation--theirs or the in-laws.?

I have a feeling some of your family members are sneaking flasks into your house this year too...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You behave like an adult just like you hopefully would in any other setting. Why must people revert to behaving like children simply because they are in a family situation--theirs or the in-laws.?

I have a feeling some of your family members are sneaking flasks into your house this year too...

Hardly, I have a full bar. I simply don't believe in going into someone's home and disrespecting their wishes. Obviously, you see no issue with blatantly disregarding what someone does or does not want in their home. That says a lot about you,