The holidays are a time of high tension for a lot of us. Not only do you have to worry about buying gifts for everyone, making a good impression in front of your older relatives, and keeping your great Aunt Jean away from the vodka, you also have to ensure your partner is having a good time.
Unfortunately, for some people, placating their other half is a lot harder than it sounds. Here are 14 couples who simply couldn't put aside their differences for just one day, and ended up ruining the holidays for each other...
1. Selfishness will kill any relationship
2. Some people just love to argue
3. I'm on his side with this one
4. This is probably for the best
5. It sucks when only one person puts in any effort
6. This is a bad omen
7. Going between families can be difficult during the holidays
8. These guys need to work out a schedule
9. Family troubles... again
10. Simple solution: get him a really nice hoodie, then steal it
11. Why is this such a big issue for some people?
12. Top tip: you can never have enough socks
13. This can happen at any time of the year
14. What is he so afraid of?
Christmas is supposed to be a time of celebration and happiness, so if you find yourself bickering with your partner over what presents to buy, or whose parents you're going to visit, just do your best to get over it before the big day. Seriously, sometimes arguments are too petty to carry on with.
With just over two weeks to go until Christmas Day, a lot of people are starting to realize that it might not be "the most wonderful time of the year" that we were all promised. Aside from being bombarded with festive jingles and commercials for discounted mince pies, we're also being pressured into buying gifts, preparing elaborate meals, and getting in touch with family members that we're only about 70 per cent certain are still alive.
Plus, when it transpires that your great auntie Jill is, in fact, still on this mortal plane, and that, yes, she would simply love to join you for Christmas dinner, you actually have to follow through with your offer. And that's a lot of effort. Don't worry, though, just follow these 9 tips for surviving difficult relatives and you'll hopefully make it out with (most of) your sanity still intact.
1. Prepare for the "so what's happening in your life?" inquisition
If you've got a lot of positive stuff going on, great! Talk about it all you want. However, if you've hit a bit of a stagnation point, or you're not particularly happy with where you are at the moment, prepare a sort of highlight reel for your family. Did something fun recently? Tell them about that. Planning a holiday next year? Distract them by talking about your future adventures. Just don't let them make you feel miserable.
2. And for the "do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?" classic
Again, if you're sorted in this department, great. Just show off your other half as much as possible. If you're not, hit them with the old "I'm focusing on me right now" excuse. Or you could be a bit coy and give them a look that says, "maybe I do have a partner, but I'm not saying more than that."
3. Avoid politics at all costs
Pretend to have swallowed a stray turkey bone, fake a phone call, or just straight-up leave the room without warning. Whatever you do, don't talk politics with your weird racist uncle. Just don't.
4. Have a prepared distraction for any awkward moments
If someone does manage to skewer politics into the discussion, offer a hasty distraction. Maybe turn up the Christmas jingles or push the conversation into something a bit more family-friendly by saying something like, "Oh, speaking of Donald Trump, I've been thinking of taking up golf next year." It'll be weird, but at least it won't be politics.
5. Feign an illness
Not a major one, just something like a cough or a sore throat. Either one will give you an excuse not to talk to people, and you'll hopefully garner enough sympathy to avoid any catty comments from your cousin Sheila.
6. Help out with dinner
If you do this, you'll have an excellent weapon in your arsenal. Nobody is going to start something with the person who's just cooked an excellent meal, and it also gives you a great excuse not to be around people for a few hours, at least.
7. Form an alliance
Pick out the most acceptable relative and become their best friend. Who cares if it's your older brother who you normally bicker with, or your quiet aunt that has like eight cats or something. Just choose the least offensive person, and stick to them like glue.
8. Keep Nana off the vodka
It's Christmas, so of course everyone is going to want a little bit of a drink. However, too much of the good stuff is going to have some very adverse effects on some relatives, and before you know it you'll be dealing with an 80-year-old having a meltdown about roast potatoes. So keep tabs on what people are drinking.
9. Have a planned excuse to leave
Mention right at the start of the day that you might have to pop over to a friend's house at some point, or that you've been asked to check on a neighbor's dog or something. That way, it won't seem suspicious if you duck out at any point.
Hopefully, you won't need any of these survival tips, and Christmas will all run smoothly. If you do, though, you should be well-prepared after reading this.
It is said that we make our own Christmas traditions. In the picture above, for example, this family obviously has waffles for their breakfast pre or post-super-fun-presents-time. You'll likely find that in most households there will be something akin to this localized tradition and that's great, it's fun and special for those involved.
However! What this also suggests, insinuates and often makes really quite down-right obvious is that the more that goes on, the more that can go wrong! The tree falls down, the dog eats the presents, the cat pulls down the lights, your racist old grandmother goes on a tirade after a few sherries, the presents don't arrive in time, someone sets fire to your boat - it really matters not! Absolute anything can go wrong in and around this yearly event.
I bet you're worried now, aren't you? Well, ignore that worry and laugh at the following calamities!
Christmas is a time of receiving the same old gifts year in year out from the same family members. Usually.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Twitter / jellispants]]
The caption really says it all here, kids, and I hope you have truly learned a lesson. It really does bring new meaning to "washing your mouth out with soap" doesn't it?.
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[post_page_title]#2 Passive Aggression At Its Absolute Finest[/post_page_title]
'My Parents Made My Wife A Stocking For Christmas' - Spending time with your parents or in-laws, distant family or family friends can be a strain on the mind. Especially if there is some bad blood or you simply can't stand whoever it is sat at your table.
[[imagecaption|| Credit" Reddit / akantho]]
However, this goes a little further, especially when you're aware of how a member of your family feels towards your partner. People are petty and Christmas is the jolly time of year for it to reach its peak! I hope dinner went well, akantho!
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[post_page_title]#3 Prank or Prophecy?[/post_page_title]
As much as this is very, very, very, very, very - VERY amusing to us, I can't imagine it was initially to the owner of this garage. The dinner is in the over, you come outside to move the car to make room for nana and grandad's needlessly huge car and you find this, but, is there more to it?
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit / extcm1]]
People eat a lot of meat at Christmas... Just saying.
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[post_page_title]#4 Well, There Goes Christmas Lunch[/post_page_title]
I mean, wow, I honestly would not know how to react if this happened to me. I would likely just stand and stare in complete and utter bewilderment at what lay before me.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit / thejimking]]
If only - A) This was that sugar glass they use in action blockbusters and B) These people had a better understanding of how physics and specifically heat works with glass surfaces!
And so we see this image before us, much like the image that may well have brought you here, this won't be the last time something like this graces this list.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit / MainePoster]]
I mean it obviously wasn't the cat now, was it? Cats have absolutely no tendency to wreck things simply because they can...
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[post_page_title]#6 Starting Christmas On The Wrong Foot[/post_page_title]
What I adore about these lists is that as much as I enjoy writing a few words here and there to accentuate the hilarity in front of me and ultimately you, sometimes, I simply don't need to.
Ah coming home to find the pet has done something and is now skulking in the corner.
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[post_page_title]#8 Christmas Dinner Is Ruined[/post_page_title]
Once the presents are done, breakfast and or brunch are done, the family disperses to mess around with their gifts of the day.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit / Aiden2222]]
Once the dinner is in the oven, the gifts of the day become sentient and take Christmas for themselves. Judgment day is upon us.
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[post_page_title]#9 I Was Putting Up Christmas Lights On My Roof A While Back When This Happened...[/post_page_title]
When it comes to Christmas decorations, some people truly go all out in a display brighter than the northern lights and tackier than a warehouse full of knock off Faberge Eggs. The effort that goes into Christmas really starts with the decorations and often sets the tone for the season!
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit / brend2b]]
Right, so shall I ask for a new ladder, a better one or for someone to - HELP ME OFF THIS F**KING ROOF.
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[post_page_title]#10 My Mom Left $300 Unattended, My Nephew (Special Little Kid) Thought It Was Just Papers. Merry Christmas, Mom[/post_page_title]
"Thank god we have that extra three-hundred for food this year, its really going to be something special?"
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit / appycapterr]]
*jaw drops to the ground*
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[post_page_title]#11 Neighbor Just Tried To Throw His Christmas Tree From The Balcony. Not Sure Where It Should’ve Landed Ideally[/post_page_title]
Something I've always enjoyed is how long people keep their trees up this time of year. Be them fake or real, the time really varies.
Anyway, when comes the time to expel the festive leafy greens from your home, most will simply chop them up or places them on the roadside for collection. Most people...
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit / goldquest]]
I wouldn't say this a person having a bad Christmas but this is still a problem, a rather laughable post-festive problem.
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[post_page_title]#12 I Ummmm... Uhhhhh... Merry Christmas![/post_page_title]
Here we are, AGAIN.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit / RedPill42]]
Dogs are an absolute mystery. Yet at Christmas, you'd think owners would be far more cautious with what they leave their pets around. I mean, look at that face, I'm sure they were just trying to help with something! [[pagebreak]]
[post_page_title]#14 I Bought My Dog An Advent Calendar, Who Then Explored All 24 Days Of Christmas While I Was Pumping Gas[/post_page_title]
Showering your pets with gifts, treats and all the things you normally wouldn't want them to get too used to is often cast by the wayside at Christmas. In all honesty, they are part of the family after all, so why not?!
Absolutely nothing can go wrong!
... ever!
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit / Trair]]
On the first day of Christmas, my owner gave to me... twenty-four days of Christmaaaasssssss!
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[post_page_title]#15 Christmas Toy, Meet Dog's Water Bowl. Dog’s Water Bowl, Meet Christmas Toy[/post_page_title]
While we're still on the Christmas adventure that is having a dog, we have a life lesson for you to consider before its all way, way, way too late.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit / AudsOrEvens]]
BE SURE OF THE LOCATION OF YOUR DOG AT ALL TIMES. Christmas is full of joy, amazing food, family and gifted items galore! Dogs are aware of this.
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[post_page_title]#16 Hid The Ham From The Dog In The Oven. On A Plastic Carving Tray. Turned The Oven On To Preheat For The Roast Turkey[/post_page_title]
Now, I imagine many of you are now questioning whether it is really worth having a dog? These instances in some way, shape or form can occur all year anyway but apparently are all the more prominent during the festive period and it really must be questioning the issue for all you prospective owners.
First off, YES, it is worth having one, just be a little smarter this December. This human was on the right track but once again, the machines have the final say. Where is Sarah Connor when you need her?
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[post_page_title]#17 Why The Wife Says We Can No Longer Have A Real Christmas Tree[/post_page_title]
Like many, I grew up with a real tree until the house was decorated and my mother got her way. Those pesky little needles would indeed get everywhere but in reality, it was never really that bad and I never completely understood the fuss of it all. Until now...
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit / stehigs321]]
Indeed, yes, completely fair enough! Carry on.
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[post_page_title]#18 Got An Interesting Package In The Mail Today. I Have No Idea Who Sent It... Merry Christmas I Guess[/post_page_title]
Unwanted gifts are a staple of Christmas, it happens at least once every year and yet most of the time, they are still in good faith! Most of the time they are and most of the time, a simple smile, nod and a thank you are enough to move past whatever it is that you didn't want.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit / BienGuzman]]
Sometimes, oh sometimes, it's a little... harder.
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[post_page_title]#19 Found On Snapchat. Someone Got A Great Christmas Present[/post_page_title]
Carrying over from unwanted gifts, we have those in which the sentiment was present and true, if not a little misguided.
Imagine this, you've had an absolute clanger of a few weeks and irreparable damage to your life has left you deflated and down-trodden. You visit the family to feel better and distract yourself from it all, only to receive this...
The word "savage" is thrown around a lot these days.
We all know the story of Ebeneser Scrouge and his hateful attitude towards Christmas, and despite the happy ending of A Christmas Carol, his disdain was real, so real in fact the story of such has clear imprinted on the quadruped in this family.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit / SirMumbleBee]]
Seriously, keep the dogs away from the tree! This has been a cautionary tale.
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[post_page_title]#21 Yep, This Just Happened! Very Lucky To Have No Injuries, Just Shattered About My Christmas Ham, Haha[/post_page_title]
[post_page_title]#22 Merry Christmas To Me! My Secret Pal Gift At Work Included Live Roaches And Roach Droppings[/post_page_title]
Secret Pal Gift, Secret Santa, the anonymous gift-giving exercise seen in the workplace each yeah is often a fun one. You have no idea what you are going to get, be it a piece of paper with a photo of something nice on it or actually something nice, the ambiguity is part of the fun!
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit / amandal0514]]
In this case, the final stage of this little light-hearted team building end of the year exercise was not. At all. *shudder*.
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[post_page_title] #23 My Christmas Present [/post_page_title]
For myself, when I was still living at home, getting the game I'd been yearning for on Christmas day would mean running up to my room and immersing myself in whatever fantasy or fictional world I had been gifted. I miss those days!
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit / magalz]]
This is completely not what you want to find, personally I would either curl up in a ball and cry or go on a rampage of wanton destruction until I found the culprit! What about you?
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[post_page_title]#24 Just About Died Getting This Up And None Of The Lights Work[/post_page_title]
Another for those house-proud builders of awe-inspiring displays or cozy festive homes for the Christmas season, the folly of this entry will likely hit home!
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Instagram rms518]]
That looks lovely too! What a shame!
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[post_page_title]#25 My Parents Came Home To Their Christmas Tree This Morning[/post_page_title]
Christmas are beautiful, there is no denying that. However, once again on this list, physics is having some play into why Christmas is ultimately being ruined.
Trees, Trees are ROOTED in the ground with ROOTS that support the ever-growing weight as the leafy-boii races to the sky to get as much sunlight as possible. This tree is clearly taller than even a reasonably tall human adult and yet has nothing but a flimsy plant pot to support its weight.
You ruined your own Christmas there my friend!
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[post_page_title]#26 This Morning Some Kids Decided To Set Fire To My Boat. Merry Christmas[/post_page_title]
Do you remember my covert mentioning of boats earlier? If you noticed it, then you may well well have experienced some confusion. Boats on fire? Christmas? What?
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit / Pedantichrist]]
Strange, I'll give you that but still, not what you need!
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[post_page_title]#27 My Dogs Just Knocked Over My Christmas Tree[/post_page_title]
On the third day of Christmas, my woofers gave to me...
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit / Squacknog]]
... hindsight via something furryyyyy.
Dog + Christmas = Headache.
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[post_page_title]#29 10 Foot Tall Christmas Tree Fell Over Today...[/post_page_title]
Right, so either this was a dog, poor planning on the part of whoever put it up or the spirit of old Scrouge has now got to the trees. You may recognize this from the cover image that again, likely brought you here, it just had to go in, I NEED TO KNOW.
Judging from what I can see, getting that tree in the house in the first place seems like a struggle plain and simple. Who needs a 10ft tree INSIDE anyway? It's beautiful and this really, isn't what you want to be dealing with at Christmas but still? Why?
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[post_page_title]#30 Got A Flat Tire Last Night Over The Christmas Holidays, Nowhere Is Open To Fix It[/post_page_title]
Family obligations, Christmas is chockful of it! Ferrying loved ones around, ferrying friends around, ferrying in-laws that drive you insane from place to place, someone has to do it! And if it's not this it's rushing to town to get the last of the Christmas comestibles, needless to say, its a busy time of year if you drive!
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit / matty111222]]
So with that said, this is not what you need now, is it?
Now if you excuse me, I need to safety proof my Christmas! Have a good one!
When you first start off in a new relationship, it's important to establish all the similarities and differences you have with your partner. These could be small things, such as your favorite foods or places to visit on holiday, or big issues, like whether or not you want kids, or what sort of political beliefs you hold. Whatever they are, though, it's important to get them out in the open - otherwise, they might end up biting you in the butt somewhere down the line.
Here are just 15 examples of couples who have grown to love each other, only to later find out that there's one issue that threatens to make them incompatible. For some of them, it's a serious problem. For others, however, it just seems like they might be acting just a little bit petty...
1. Make this clear as soon as you start getting serious
2. These guys need to find a middle ground
3. Politics can be a huge deal breaker
4. Maybe try changing things up a bit?
5. Mom and Mama?
6. You could always let them choose for themselves...
7. Take it in turns to choose
8. First world problems
9. This is a difficult one
10. Maybe focus on the first kid for now
11. This doesn't seem entirely healthy
12. Adopt a rescue dog!
13. Spotify has literally thousands of playlists that might help you out
14. There will be somewhere out there that makes you both happy
15. This seems really unfair
So, there you have it. Some people have some really serious issues going on in their lives, whereas others just need to learn how to share the TV remote. With most of these problems, however, it seems that a serious discussion and a little honesty will go a long way.
Christmas is a time for family, which means that it's also a time for people and their loved ones to get on each other's nerves. Think about it: how many arguments have you and your family had over Christmas dinner over the years? Maybe it's because your grandmother decided to bring up some long-winded and embarrassing anecdote, maybe your dad and sister argue about someone she's been dating, and maybe your mom and brother have a falling out because he didn't set the table until it was almost too late.
Most of these squabbles end in a frank exchange of views before the participants flounce off to bed, only for them to take up the next morning with (most likely) a hangover and indigestion, and sheepishly apologise for their prior remarks. However, this year a woman who hails from Germany apparently got so fed up with her spouse that she decided to take things to the next level. Rather than continue to nag at him, she decided to see if she could pawn him off at that ultimate repository for everything broken, missing and useless: eBay.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: eBay]]
The Hamburgian woman, known only as 'Dorte L', took to the auctioneering site to sell her husband after the two of them had a festive altercation. The advert for the auctioned man was entitled "Husband: Used" and accompanied by an image of the couple’s Christmas tree. Dorte stated that potential buyers could come round to their home to collect the man on Christmas Day, and that he could be "road tested" on Boxing Day.
The advert read: "Dear women who may be interested. Over the first two days of Christmas I have realised that we simply don't belong together any more. I would like to give up my husband. I am happy to negotiate the price. But no exchange. Please send me inquiries over email."
Speaking to the Hamburger Abendblatt, she said her husband was unaware of the advert until it appeared in local newspapers, stating: The advert was very well received. I got a lot of positive feedback and someone sent me a lot of smiley emoticons. I didn't want to make a drama out of it at all. It was just for some amusement."
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Getty]]
This isn't the first time that someone has tried to sell something unlikely on the website. Earlier this year, a man named Chris Pollitt attempted to sell his house on eBay. Commenting on the bizarre listing of his own home, Pollitt stated: "It's been on the market around six months, and in that time I've had about eight or nine viewings, but you can tell straight away none of them were serious. Since posting on eBay I've had a few messages and they all seem to be more interested in actually buying the place than just coming for a look around."
So there you go, some lucky person could end up with a new home and hubby in the next few weeks! Isn't eBay grand?
Breaking up with your partner around the Christmas season is always a touchy subject, and particularly when it comes to determining exactly when to do the dreaded deed.
But according to a new study by Hillarys.co.uk, Friday, December 6 is the absolute last day you can end things with your other half before Christmas and New Year.
The study centered around 2,643 couples and singles in the UK, and most of the participants said splitting up any later than Friday, December 6 was simply unacceptable.
This dramatic footage shows a woman breaking up with her cheating boyfriend at her own birthday party:
In other words, December 6 is the deadline for dumping your partner before the festive holiday officially begins.
But if you are considering breaking up after the deadline date, 32% of the participants said you should at least wait until January before breaking your other half's heart.
"You think that December would be the most popular time of year for couples to get together, but this research reveals quite the opposite," Lucy Askew, spokeswoman for Hillarys.co.uk, said.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Pexels]]
Indeed, per The Independent, data has shown that just two weeks before Christmas is the most popular day to end things with your other half.
The data was compiled by statisticians who studied Facebook posts containing break-up messages.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Pexels]]
Askew continues:
"You’ve only got a few days left if you want to make that dreaded decision, but it is best to do it now to at least give them time to feel better before Christmas comes. You wouldn’t want to be responsible for ruining the most wonderful time of the year for someone by splitting up right beforehand!”
Hillarys is a retail company made up of 1000 expert advisors who visit customers in their home and help them pick from their ranges of blinds, curtains, and shutters.
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