“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” I think Dickens was actually talking about the holiday season in this quote.
The holidays are enchanting and almost unanimously considered “the most wonderful time of the year.” We bundle up by the fire, we sip fair trade cocoa, we listen to the dulcet sounds of Zooey Deschanel as She & Him serenades us through a magical Bluetooth speaker, and we feast upon all that is glorious to our taste buds.
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Yes, that side of the holidays is truly the best of times. But then there’s all the preparation that goes into having that moment. Shopping and cooking and more shopping and cooking, and cleaning, and cleaning and cleaning again. Why so much cleaning? Because your in-laws are coming to visit!
You know you clean places you’ve never even seen before when your in-laws head your way. But good luck keeping your house clean over the holidays, especially if you have kids. My toddler alone leaves a wake of destruction that rivals a tornado in a trailer park. And she always happens to be most destructive just before company arrives. Awesome. So then when your mother-in-law, as well-meaning as she is, walks in and tells you she wants more grandkids, you try really hard to not yell at her, “Are you kidding me?”
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Of course, in that moment, you don’t want to spawn more dimpled destructors. But that’s not what your mother-in-law sees. She only sees her gorgeous grandbabies, and as she’s smothered by their hugs and kisses, how could she not want more? You know deep down that she means well. You just have to remind yourself of that fact while she’s visiting. The same goes for any company during the holidays. It can be hard to have other people staying in your space, but the memories far outweigh the moments of madness. So remember to look for the redeeming qualities in your guests this holiday season. You may have to look long and hard to see those redemptive qualities in some relatives, but they’re there.
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We actually really love our in-laws and have great relationships with them, but we know not everyone is so lucky. If you find yourself stressed out by your company this holiday season, just watch our parody. We did the stress-eating for you to save you the calories. Just consider it an early Christmas present. You’re welcome. Actually, maybe we should be thanking you. Those were our favorite scenes to film. #nomnomnom
Happy Thanksgiving!
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