BY ALEXA CHERRY
For the UAS Whalesong

Going home for the holidays – or at least for winter break – is something that most of us find ourselves doing every school year, whether we want to or not. There are plenty of great things about the holiday season, of course; the first and most obvious is that there’s no homework. And of course, there’s the free (or at least cheap) stuff, gift-giving, snow, holiday drinks like mint hot chocolate and eggnog, and spending time with your family! But in recent years, I’ve noticed an apparent trend. The longer you spend at college, the less time you can spend with your family without getting into an argument with one or more members. Sometimes this is fine; it’s just a little verbal spat, a minor disagreement, nothing huge. Other times it is a big deal, with one or more of you blowing up over a really controversial topic and doing everything short of throwing the kitchen table at each other. Part of this is because at school, you live and work and hang out with your friends, and your friends are naturally people who share your beliefs and points of view. You’re also formulating your own new opinions about the world and young adult life – opinions that might not align with those of your mom, dad, aunts or uncles, etc. And this is perfectly fine! Well, unless you’re a proponent of Communism or something. Then your parents are probably right to fight with you. But I’m just going to assume that you’re not, and give you some tips on how to survive the upcoming Thanksgiving (if you’re going home for it) and Christmas breaks. Continue reading “Family Feuds”