• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Three Things NOT To Say at Holiday Gatherings

November 27, 2012 by Finance Leave a Comment

Well, it’s that time again. Time to pack the family in a car, travel to see the in-laws and have an awkward, gut-busting meal courtesy of Auntie Carol and her dog Speckle, who may or may not smell like mothballs, which may or may not be what the entire house smells like.

Hopefully, you were able to find a photography studio in your area and came packing family portraits and photos of the kids – because if there’s one thing relatives like, it’s pictures of all the nieces, nephews and grandkids.

But even if you’ve done everything right, let’s face it: conversation may not be exactly fluid. There are, however, a few things you should definitely not say in an attempt to break the awkwardness and scare up a chat this holiday season:

1. “I’m a vegetarian.”

Good for you. But no matter how against meat you are, no matter how healthy it may be to not consume animal protein, this is just one of those things you don’t say as a guest, especially while celebrating a holiday that’s visually represented by a cooked turkey. This is more for your sake than those around you. Saying you’re vegetarian brings with it a litany of questions you will have to answer. “Don’t you miss meat?” “What do you eat then?” “Cows are dumb anyway, why not just eat them?” The list goes on and on. Eat a big lunch and casually stick to side dishes without making a fuss. You’ll be spared the third degree, and you won’t run the risk of offending your hostess.

2. “How’s the divorce going?”

If one of your in-laws or family members is going through a divorce, it might seem polite and compassionate to bring it up, but it’s a huge mistake. The holidays stir up a lot of emotions and there’s just no way to know how someone will react to this question. They make think you’re being hostile, or condescending or even judgmental. Also, you’re potentially subjecting yourself to a day-long tirade, in which you get to hear every detail of the person’s epic failed marriage. Don’t do it.

3. “I got this from the store.”

If you brought something from the store, don’t say it aloud, silly. Pretend you made it! A potluck Christmas is supposed to be communal celebrations of cooking, not admissions of consumer laziness. Unless someone starts throwing up from it, don’t cop to your contribution being store-bought.

There are endless examples of how Christmas can turn into the most awkward day of the year. Take measures to train yourself not to say the thing that results in you being the root cause.

Smile, say thank you, complement the hosts’ home and hair, chew your turkey, ham, or tofu substitute with your mouth closed, and try to get you and your family out before you’ve consumed 3 trillion calories and made someone cry.

Happy holidays!

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Uncategorized

About Finance

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Search

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

Nursing Mothers Granted Tax Break

Great news! Nursing moms are getting a new tax break from … [Read More...] about Nursing Mothers Granted Tax Break

Must Have

STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

April has arrived which means it’s time to pull out the food … [Read More...] about STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

Did you know?

Clean the Smell From the Inside of a Leather Jacket

How to Clean the Smell From the Inside of a Leather Jacket

How to Take Wrinkles Out of Polyester With Steam

Emotional Development of Adolescents

Cook London Broil in an Electric Pressure Cooker

How to Cook London Broil in an Electric Pressure Cooker

Advantages & Disadvantages for Children in a Single-Parent Family

how much weight should a baby gain

How Much Weight Should a Baby Gain?

Decoding a Man’s Hug

Decoding a Man’s Hug

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2022 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.