Going home for the holidays can feel like stepping straight back into your teenage self: unsolicited questions, old wounds, passive-aggressive comments and all. In this episode, we get into why family gatherings feel so intense, how to protect your peace, and what actually helps you enjoy the season (or at least survive it). We share personal stories, emotional landmines, and practical scripts to handle everything from boundaries to budgeting to bringing a new partner home.
Going home for the holidays can feel like stepping straight back into your teenage self: unsolicited questions, old wounds, passive-aggressive comments and all. In this episode, we get into why family gatherings feel so intense, how to protect your peace, and what actually helps you enjoy the season (or at least survive it). We share personal stories, emotional landmines, and practical scripts to handle everything from boundaries to budgeting to bringing a new partner home. In this episode, we talk:
🎄 Why holidays magnify family dynamics
🧠 How to stay grounded before you’re overwhelmed
🚫 Shutting down questions about dating, babies, weight, career
🔁 Why we regress around family and how to cope
❤️ Supporting (or being supported by) a partner
🍷 Managing alcohol-fuelled tension
💸 Gifting expectations when you’re on a budget
🚪 Knowing when you’ve hit your limit—and how to exit
✨ Creating small moments of calm or joy
🌈 What a chosen-family holiday can look like
Plus: a little catch-up, some laughs, and a rapid-fire game of “Great Idea or Very, Very Bad?” featuring re-gifting, festive PJs, bathroom crying, and hometown exes. If holiday family chaos is your seasonal tradition… this one’s for you.
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