You're listening to life kit from NPR.
Hey, everybody, it's Marielle.
Okay, so picture this.
It's the holidays.
You're having dinner with the family, and you can feel a storm brewing.
Your brother in law starts to needle you about what you're eating or not eating.
Two of your cousins have started just lightly shouting at each other.
Or your aunt is asking your sister yet again when she's having kids.
You know, families fight, especially when they're all together under the same roof, and especially if people are drinking, even though combat is probably not the reason you showed up.
What if we approach this differently?
On this episode of life kit, we're gonna share some tools you can use when conflict arises during a family gathering.
It's improv, right?
You're seeing what works in the moment.
You have these tools, you have these strategies.
You have these scripts of what to say.
Some things will land and other things won't.
We'll talk about when to engage or mediate, when to delay a conversation or deflect, and how to disagree productively so you can actually enjoy the time you have together.
All right, so, like I was saying, most of us don't go to family gatherings spoiling for a fight.
We may go out of obligation or guilt, but we're still hoping to connect or to feel joy that day.
If you know that your family's holiday events tend to turn into verbal brawls, you can prepare for that by getting clear on your intentions going in.