I should be packing right now. But I’m still in the laundry-catch-up phase. I haven’t even gotten our suitcases down from the attic. I’m a last-minute-procrastinator-type anyway so it’s par for the course. Besides, if I focus on clothes and which toys to bring on the airplane I won’t have to think about the reason for our trip: the Family Reunion.
The pluses of our trip: we’re going to the Motherland (a.k.a. Utah) which means a chance to stock up at Deseret Book (we don’t have any church bookstores here in Austin); going to the mountains and actually being cool (also something not available in Austin); hanging out with several relatives who are lots of fun.
The minuses: hanging out with several relatives who are not lots of fun.
I am not the kind of person who keeps her opinions to herself. I was raised to know my own mind and not be embarrassed about that. But I married into a family where stuffing all your feelings deep inside and keeping a smile plastered on your face the whole time is encouraged. Drama and feelings are not welcome. It’s been hard to find a happy meduim where I feel like I can be myself but not ruffle any feathers (what am I talking about? I haven’t found that happy medium. I just shut up, let the pasive agression roll off of me, then spend the night crying into my pillow. But better that I should cry than if I am happy and everyone else is crying. Trust me. It’s happened.)
My neighbor just got back from her family reunion. There was sobbing and hurt feelings and accusations (six sisters! No wonder!); the opposite of my in-laws, but a disaster nonetheless.
Is it possible to gather twenty or thirty people together who are linked by marriage or genetics and not expect bad things to happen? Is it naïve of me to hope that this year things might be different? That we’ll all get along really well? Could it be that some families’ reunions are reasons to celebrate and not groan through clenched teeth?
Have you discovered any secrets to survive the mulit-day family reunion? How do you deal with clashing personalities, differing opinions, opposing parenting styles and general wierdness? Is the fake smile going to be my best friend by the end of the week?
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