Going home for any holiday can feel like stepping into a time machine—same house, same jokes, same roles you thought you outgrew.
In this episode of Squeeze Limes, Robin and Tyler unpack real holiday anxiety, the emotional whiplash of returning to family dynamics, and what happens when people expect you to be the version of you they remember instead of the person you’ve become.
We talk about universal holiday triggers: food shaming, portion policing, pressure to drink, unsolicited comments, and the relatives who poke without realizing they’re poking. You’ll hear simple ways to set boundaries in real time, how to answer “isn't that your third serving?!” without spiraling, and how to stay grounded when you’re sleeping in someone else’s guest room.
We also get into letting go of perfection, adjusting expectations before you travel, using presence to keep your nervous system from spinning out, and choosing when “family” is biological and when it’s chosen.
If holidays bring up anxiety, regression or emotional static, this episode gives you practical language, a little humor, and a grounded way to show up as current-you—not kid-you.
Listen, follow, review, and send this to the friend who always texts you from the bathroom during family gatherings.