Dear Blake,
My in-laws that I don’t particularly like, are coming over on Christmas Day. The problem is, they don’t know when to leave. I don’t want to be rude and tell them to get out, but it’s frustrating when they won’t pick up on any of my hints. What do you suggest?
Signed, Alysse
From Huntley, Illinois
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Dear Alysse,
In many families across the globe, Christmas Day is when they do the most bonding. But even fresh fish begins to stink if it stays too long. Unwanted irritating relatives rarely know when it is time for them to slink out the front door. Here are some suggestions. To encourage them to leave, try talking about subjects that may gross them out, such as telling them in graphic detail what you saw on the Discovery Channel when they did a documentary on maggots. Or you want to show them some pictures you took with your camera phone of what your dog did when it was really sick. But what I feel is the most effective idea is, because it’s winter time, turn off the heat in your home and open all the windows and doors. And then tell your clueless in-laws that your family has a tradition on Christmas Day to determine who is the healthiest, by having a contest on who will be the last frostbitten person standing in the freezing temperature that doesn’t catch pneumonia. I hope this helps.
Blake