Surviving the Holidays: Navigating Family Gatherings While Healing Your Mother Wound

In this episode, I address the knot in your stomach that appears every holiday season when you're in the middle of healing your mother wound. Family gatherings can feel like emotional minefields, filled with triggering comments, guilt trips, old dynamics that resurface, and the pressure to perform happiness while suppressing your authentic feelings. I walk you through the first decision: whether to attend at all, and give you permission to say no without explanation. If you do attend, I provide a comprehensive preparation plan including setting realistic expectations, planning responses ahead of time (and practicing them out loud), deciding on boundaries before you arrive, and always having an exit strategy. I share five specific boundary types with scripts for common holiday scenarios, from the Gray Rock Method to the Broken Record technique. This episode also covers what to do when things go sideways, how to handle family guilt and self-guilt, alternative celebration ideas like Friendsgiving or volunteer work, and the crucial importance of post gathering self-care. I close with cultural considerations, acknowledging that opting out may not work for everyone but boundaries can be adapted to honor your values while protecting your peace.

With this episode you'll be able to:

• Decide whether attending family gatherings supports or hinders your healing journey using clear evaluation criteria
• Prepare strategically for family events with realistic expectations, planned responses, pre-set boundaries, and exit strategies
• Use five specific boundary types including topic redirects, the Gray Rock Method, physical removal, time limits, and the Broken Record technique
• Navigate common triggering situations with ready-to-use scripts for criticism, guilt trips, forced reconciliation, and victim playing
• Recognize family guilt as manipulation tactics and release self-guilt that tells you protecting your mental health is selfish
• Create alternative holiday traditions like Friendsgiving, volunteering, or quiet celebrations that honor your healing journey

Connect with Brittney:

• Instagram: @theBrittneyScott
• Website: www.brittneymscott.com
• Consultation to work with Brittney
• Free Resources

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Keyword tags:

Holiday boundaries, family gatherings, mother wound healing, holiday survival guide, toxic family dynamics, Gray Rock Method, holiday guilt, setting boundaries during holidays, Friendsgiving alternatives, family dysfunction, emotional protection, holiday triggers, choosing peace, breaking cycles, cultural boundaries during holidays