By Leah Brignall

It is December and the holiday season is in full swing! Many people are going to be spending a lot of time with their families in the coming weeks, so during this month our blog will be focusing on family dynamics.

We all know that there are countless reasons your family can be a blessing. There are also instances when family can cause extra stress. During the holiday season many of us experience examples of both of these. One day your sister might come to the rescue by finding the last turkey in town after you forgot to buy one. The next day there might be a huge argument between your brother and your step-mom in the middle of your dinner party. Ups and downs are normal for any family to experience, but there are some ways of dealing with the hard times that are better than others. If it seems like there is a constant struggle between family members, or if a situation has come up that you do not know how to deal with, it is never a bad idea to ask for help from a professional counselor!

A very common scenario that can cause family tension is when college students come home for the holidays. Parents and adult children can sometimes find it difficult to communicate with one another. It is important to remember that this is a time of transition for both the parent and the child. The parent might be struggling with not having the child at home full time. When the child visits, it could be hard for the parent to accept that they are more independent and grown than they were before. The visit can also be difficult from the child’s perspective. They have been on their own and making their own choices and have probably gotten used to that. Coming home and having to answer to their parents could be a challenge for them. If you would like to read more about having a child coming home to visit check out this article.

Whether you are celebrating with lots of family, or a few close friends who have become like family, we wish you joy during this holiday season!