“…’Tis the season to be jolly….” It’s no secret that the holidays can be a stressful time for families. Old wounds can be reopened, old grudges renewed, buried emotions reignited. People who are rarely see each other may be together for days on end.
But the holidays also present an opportunity for families.
Sometimes a family should focus simply on setting up some kind of communications plan for the future. Just having some agreed upon method for communicating can be a great benefit if communications need to be made in a crisis. Whether in a family business or in an extended family with an aging parent — or a combination of the two — thoughtful planning can avoid missteps or bruised feelings when time is critical and emotions are running high.