The holidays are generally a happy time, you catch up with old friends, give and receive gifts and spend quality time with loved ones. However, the holidays can stress people out as well, and can often lead to a few petty fights that you’ll be laughing about before the ball drops on new year’s eve. These fights can get pretty heated, but are always quickly resolved. ‘Twas the fight before Christmas and all through the world families fought and fought without even a second thought.
The First Fight of Christmas
The first fight of Christmas your will be over which tree to choose. Your sister wants the tall skinny one, your mom wants the ugly but fragrant one, you want the short and fat one and your dad and brothers want to leave.
The Second Fight of Christmas
Ah the second fight of Christmas, who is going to pick up who from the airport. Families are spread out all over the country (and even the world) so, being on airport duty it where the second fight comes into play.
The Third Fight of Christmas
Back to the tree. No one can agree on which ornament goes where and what color lights to wrap it up in, so there is already some tension developing but the real fight comes when it’s time to decide who puts the topper on the tree. You did it last year so you’re immediately thrown out of the pool. Your sister puts up a good fight with her ‘I’m the next in line age wise’ argument but your younger brother swoops in with ‘oh but I’m the baby’ argument and your mom falls for it and he climbs up the ladder and top that tree with all his pride as your sister sulks about how unfair it is.
The Fourth Fight of Christmas
As the holidays creep closer and closer the inevitable ‘where’ fight sneaks right through the holiday cheer. Deciding where (and with who) you’re spending Christmas with is always a tough one. Your Mom really doesn’t want to go to your Dad’s cranky great Aunt Holly’s house but you’re Dad really doesn’t want to spend the day with your Mom’s brother’s wife’s sister’s family. The stakes are high when they decide to just stay home and send a nice card instead.
The Fifth Fight of Christmas
Speaking of cards… Christmas cards can be one of the best traditions a family has, but also one of the most stressful and fight inducing traditions a family has. After two and a half hours of trying to get the perfect shot of all five of you plus two dogs you end up with a blurry picture and a bunch of annoyed people.
While I could go on and on about the fights of Christmas, I think it’d be better to address why we should try really hard this holiday season to avoid as many family fights (no matter how little or silly they are) as possible. The holidays bring families and friends together and while people will no doubt butt heads, everyone should just remember what the holidays are truly about. No matter what you do or don’t celebrate the holiday season should be a time of thanks, a time of appreciation and most importantly a time of happiness. Look at the people you're with and remember all the reasons you’re grateful and happy to be with them this holiday season. Before subjecting yourself to a fight about which christmas cookies to make or something silly and unworth the precious time you should be spending laughing and loving those you’re surrounded by remember how lucky you are to have so many people to spend this holiday season with.
