What The Sandwich Generation Can Bring To The Holiday Table
Are you wondering whether your family dynamics at this year's holiday dinners are going to be a major problem and scare off your daughter's new boyfriend and his parents? Do you want to take the family conversation up a notch or two this holiday season and talk about more than turkey and gravy? Are you tired of stuffing the bird and ready to pass the proverbial baton to the very capable members of the younger generation? Use the following helpful tips - especially those that apply specifically to your family situation - and begin to create a new set of family holiday rituals:
1. Make a very conscious decision to put aside any longstanding misunderstandings and individual differences so you can enjoy the family time together. Plan to arrive at dinner with an open mind, no annoying complaints and an accepting heart.
2. Before the meal, begin a general conversation about the significance of gratitude. Have both your children and your parents talk about what they are thankful for and discuss how expressing these kinds of feelings can become a part of everyone's daily lives.
3. During the dinner, deepen the discussion by encouraging all family members to identify their core values. A core value is about being, not about doing. For example, you may set a goal of being a more secure and satisfied person rather than one of having a lot of money. Decide to live up to these standards by taking action and create a more congruent and satisfying way of life.
4. Pause as you recognize the many talents, skills and positive character traits of other family members, as well as your own. Serve as a role model for your extended family. Increase everyone's self confidence as you openly acknowledge and describe their personal strengths and resources.
5. If you're ready to think about being a guest instead of the host at these gatherings, make this holiday a rite of passage. Whether you're edging your kidults out of the comfort of the nest or taking a well deserved respite for yourself, begin to shift the responsibility of family get-togethers to the next generation.
6. Pass on the rich and deep legacy of your family from past generations. Let your adult children know how much you value keeping the family close. Set high standards and teach by example as they watch how you lovingly take care of the increasing needs of your own aging parents.
7. Encourage the younger members of the family to preserve the old traditions and give them your support while they are busy creating innovative customs of their own. Remember to express your deep appreciation as they develop new family and holiday attitudes.
Whether your emerging adult children make an executive decision to create new-wave sweet potato recipes or cook the turkey and stuffing in the microwave, it's now out of your control. You wanted a break, so here you have it. Sit back and relax - all you need to do is agree to pass the gravy.
© Her Mentor Center, 2006
(ArticlesBase SC #333285)
The Krug Room at Guy Savoy
Pop bottles with a sixth-generation Krug whose family has made champagne their passion. Get an inside peek at the new Krug Room at Guy Savoy, one of only 5 in the world, learn about the different varietals and savor that first sip. (04:35)
The History of Rum in Bermuda
Learn the history of rum and have a shot or two of Black Seal, a must-have for any true Dark and Stormy. Family run for seven generations, since the days of swashbuckling and seafaring, today Gosling's is the only rum that blends and bottles in Bermuda. (04:31)
Planning Family Holidays
Learn some tips, advice and invaluable knowledge for new parents, such as planning family holidays. (10:50)
Fun For All the Family in Atlanta
In this travel video learn about the great attractions that should make you want to visit Atlanta, Georgia with your family. (01:54)
Thanksgiving With His Family
How soon is too soon to be invited back to his house for Thanksgiving? If subtle hints don't work, how can you get the message across to him that you'll be spending it alone? (04:44)
If you're networking with strangers, you're wasting your time. A consultant friend of mine recently complained, "I'm doing 2-3 networking events a week - and I'm worn out."
Note that there are many variables involved in analysing the effects of stretching and flexibility training on human structure and function, and that this article has addressed only one of the applications of "stretching."
This article describes a new outdoor wedding venue in Santa Monica Ca as well as provides a few tips to wedding planning on a budget.
Crockery plays several roles at the dining table. For some, it soothes the mind by bringing light and colour to the dining table. It can add beauty and gravity to the table setting, and it can impress guests with your tastes. While these are not huge life changes, crockery can make little changes in your everyday life, making an investment into this type of tableware worthwhile.
Fill up on your favourite Chuckie Cheese and save loads using these coupons
Italy is well-known all over the world also in virtue of its cuisine: famous restaurants and cooks are certainly not missing in Italy, and Italian typical dishes are appreciated everywhere.
5 portions of fruit and veg is the mininum you need every day just to maintain good health. Although this can seem daunting in a busy life, there are painless choices and simple ideas that can really add up once you start to put them into practice. Have fun mixing and matching these ideas and 5-a-day will soon be second nature!
Do you love a great bottle of red wine? Aerators can make your next bottle one that you won't soon forget. These products are designed to take the place of the decanting process, which can sometimes take hours.
Senator Ted Kennedy was the last of the Kennedy brothers whose power, challenges and triumphs dominated a generation of politics. He was eulogized as an inspiration to his family and to those in public service. His body of work toward progressive causes in the U.S. Senate was proof that he...
Coming from a family of entertainers with a demanding stage-dad, Michael Jackson had been in the limelight since he was a young boy. Super stardom was all he knew. Although talented, famous and adored, his was a lonely life - one full of contradictions. He tried to create his own...
The financial crisis has affected many people and involved losses on many levels -jobs, income, money in the stock market, a certain comfort level, retirement funds, a sense of security, dreams for the future. And, inevitably, these feelings of loss are accompanied by a period of grieving. Ever since Dr....
Children today are caught in the crosshairs of modern media. Technology has become their babysitter - reality TV, nude photos on the Internet, bizarre videos on YouTube, seductive text messages. It's time for these young people to be exposed instead to role models who have the potential to inspire them...
Nadya Suleman is a 33 year old unemployed single mother who recently gave birth to octuplets, conceived through in vitro fertilization. She grew up as an only child and had always dreamed of having a large family. Reporters, pundits and bloggers have called her irresponsible and selfish, as she already...
Bravery and humility - often at the heart of fairy tales - are qualities that can inspire all of us to be the best that we can be. And, with the doom and gloom of the economic crisis, we were primed and about ready for a miracle. People want to...
In a recent letter to his girls, President Barack Obama wrote: "I want you to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach......" Now that's a strong message from a father to his daughters. Some say that the Obamas are the kind...
The meltdown in the economy and the crisis in confidence couldn't have come at a worse time. Have you been feeling stretched by the financial pressure? If you're facing tough buying decisions, the responsibilities of the holiday season may even be getting you down. These are challenging times. This year,...
0