Every family has them. I don’t care how perfect your family may be or how much they emulate the Waltons, every family has their fair share of awkward moments. The holidays only serve to make them more rampant. Some families have their very own Cousin Eddie á la National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
Don't be a Cousin Eddie this holiday season!
Perhaps the people in your life aren’t so extreme as to roll up in a rusting motor home and outstay their welcome like the previously mentioned movie icon, but we can still use him as inspiration for what not to do this time of year. If you are playing the role of house guest this year, don’t be a Cousin Eddie. Be the wonderfully thoughtful person you are and follow these tips from Good Housekeeping’s etiquette expert, Peggy Post.
Rules for Being a Holiday Guest
By Peggy Post
- All hosts love a surprise gift – including your mother and aunts.
- Be willing to pitch in, but instead of asking the harried host how you can help, volunteer to do a specific job like loading the dishwasher.
- If you make the offer to help and the host firmly declines, back off – some people really don’t want guests in their kitchen.
- At family get-togethers, don’t let nosy questions upset you. Deflect rudeness by changing the topic: “You’re right, Uncle Jim, I was thinner last year. How ‘bout those Steelers?”
- Houseguesting? Observe this rule of thumb: Three nights is usually plenty. Spell out arrival and departure times well in advance so your host isn’t left guessing.
