Getting anxious about spending time with your extended family over the holidays" Me too. Rum-and-eggnog-infused political debates, passive-aggressive gifts for the kids and backhanded comments about your parenting can put a damper on the festive mood.
Family gatherings can be physically and emotionally exhausting for a number of reasons, yet we agree to so many of them year after year. The calendar gets even fuller when you throw a partner and kids into the mix. Juggling the demands and traditions of multiple families can be tough, leaving little room to create customs of your own. Give yourself an early Christmas present by starting to set some boundaries before it all begins. Here?s how.
1. Do a needs assessment

The first step to setting boundaries is understanding your needs and the needs of the people in your home. Take some time to think about everyone?s emotional, physical, spiritual and social needs, and keep them in mind when evaluating whether or not you can commit to an engagement. For example, it may be stressful to be at a family gathering that includes your ex?honour your feelings and skip it. Your kids may turn into little Scrooges with fewer than 10 hours of sleep, so staying up until midnight to ring in the New Year is out too. Being clear on what you and your family members need to have a happy, healthy holiday season will help guide your decisions. 2. If you have a partner, get on the same page

You may not want to participate in the pricey annual ...