Holiday Resources
Check out some of our tips and conversations as you navigate time with friends and family during the holidays
Friends and Family Tip Sheet
Holiday family gatherings can pose a unique challenge in this politically charged climate. Why? Because family is known for breaking host and guest social norms. Because family knows each other’s triggers and because family relations often require more of us. Emotional stakes tend to be higher, conversations are colored by history and it can feel easier to take the proverbial gloves off and fight dirty, unconstrained by the politeness we give others.
This tip sheet can help you use Living Room Conversations skills to practice loving and connecting with your family, even when you don’t like what they believe.
Conversation Buffets
How to avoid family drama when talking politics over Thanksgiving dinner
Are you worried about the dreaded politics topic being broached at Thanksgiving Dinner?
You’re not alone. We talk to folks all the time who find conversations with family can be the most difficult for them. This article features former Managing Partner and mediation expert Mary Gaylord’s tips for tackling tough topics without a food fight.
“I think people come to the realization that they’re out of practice of listening to somebody else; listening to somebody who has a different point of view. We, kind of, set up in our culture this pro-con binary,” says Mary.
Relationships over Politics Conversation Guide
Podcasts, Videos, & Media
Common Ground Committee Podcast:
SAME FAMILY – DIFFERENT POLITICS
Intergenerational Potluck
Healing family divisions from the trauma of 2020 starts with listening to people you disagree with, experts say
In this Milwaukee Sentinel article, Braille Ringer and Becca Kearl share their own experiences navigating difficult conversations with their families- whether it’s a conversation about race or politics. They both highlight how the Conversation Agreements can help you start and stay in difficult conversations.