By: Afton Turner LPCC I am a therapist working with parents, adult children, and families navigating parent and adult child conflict, family relationship problems, estrangement, political and value differences, and difficult communication. I help families better understand the patterns underneath their conflict and find ways to move forward even when seeing eye to eye isn’t possible. We are navigating a unique time in the world. Political differences are at an all-time high, and the divide...

You didn't come this far in parenting to feel like a stranger to your own child. But now you may find yourself tiptoeing around topics you used to talk about freely. Replaying conversations in your head, wondering what went wrong. Feeling like no matter what you say, it comes out wrong.

Key Points Set clear expectations Slow the moment down Divide responsibilities The holidays bring excitement, memories (good and bad), pressure, and a lot of unspoken expectations. Even in the most loving families, this season can create tension simply because everyone is stressed in different ways. The good news: small shifts can make communication calmer and more connected. Set clear expectations ahead of time. Most misunderstandings come from assumptions: who’s bringing what, what time to...