Last year the Corona Virus put a limit on our gatherings, but this year we've been given a break on most of the restrictions. Holidays are a time for families to get together and spend time. Joyous reunions can quickly turn into a mess, and all it takes is just one person bringing up a sensitive subject, rehashing an old argument, or a mistake made by a family member to set off the family holiday drama. Openly criticizing how someone is raising or (not) disciplining someone's kids can also do it. Even well-intentioned comments can sometimes backfire. If you want to avoid repeats of past holiday rifts, here are some things to watch out for (even if you're not the initiator):

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• money spent on gifts or who didn't buy any

• embarrassing childhood stories

• trying to control adult children while they're in town

• not liking someone's new mate or giving them the cold shoulder

• family members who let too much fly out of their mouths after they've been drinking

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How to deal with drama:

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• Set different times for family members to come by who have known issues

• Pre-set some boundaries for dinner table talk

• Hold off on serving alcoholic beverages until after dinner is finished

• Say "please" and "thank you" and be willing to go the extra mile to be pleasant

• Certain comments are better left unsaid...think before you speak

• Don't ask too many questions and mind your business

• If your family is known to act up on the holidays, don't invite new people to witness

• Let the drama queens/kings eat some place else this year

We all need to avoid any additional stress this year. Just try to eat, drink, and be merry!

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