Dear Diane,
My family consists of two small children and we spend every holiday shuttling from one house to another to make sure that no one gets their feelings hurt. What’s the best way to change this pattern?-P.
Dear P.,
Like the Nike ad says, “Just do it!” Let your family members know in advance that you are establishing a new family ritual and you want the children to wake up and spend the morning at their own home. Explain that you want the kids to open gifts, have breakfast, and enjoy the morning together as a family. As a peace treaty and show of polite holiday etiquette, offer to cook a casserole or big pot of stew for whoever would like to show up later in the day. Chances are, no one will want to leave the house until later in the day and you may start your own open house Christmas evening. Don’t feel guilty for wanting to start family traditions of your own.
Best,
Diane
You may also like Holiday Houseguest Etiquette. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips read her posts on Inc., subscribe to her articles on Huff Post, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter. Buy her new book, Modern Etiquette for a Better Life.
