In-laws and holidays: A guide to happier family gatherings

Holidays can rise or fall on unmet expectations. So Cunningham recommended turning expectations into requests. If you want your guests to be on time, tell them. "We have a lot planned, so please try to be here by 6." If you expect people to dress up for dinner, express it ahead. Want help in the kitchen or people to stand clear? Say it.

If there's an issue, say, "Here's what's important to me," NOT "here's what's wrong." And don't think that either you or your in-law can be satisfied when traditions or expectations clash. "There is always common ground. Common, not middle," said Cunningham.

Upsets and disagreements always seem to contain "what happened" and "what someone added." They came late to dinner, Cunningham said. That's what happened. They didn't respect my request. That's what's added.

The in-laws bought a gift for my child I don't like. It happened. They don't care or are trying to outdo me. That's what got added.

"About 99 percent of our experience of life comes from what we add," Cunningham said. "If you separate those two out, it defuses every argument."

Real togetherness

Colette and Randy Moser juggle not only holidays with their parents, but also with their adult children. This year, her dad will come up from St. George to Salt Lake. Her in-laws already live nearby.

On Christmas Eve, they'll enjoy a big party with her side of the family, and on Christmas Day, Moser will cook breakfast and her husband's parents will come over, before heading home to prepare for the dinner at their house for the extended family, including Moser's sibling-in laws and all their kids.

Many of the activities are run open-house style and it's a congenial group, but even if they didn't all get along, breathing room has been built in so people aren't forced together.

"It's all really fun," she said.

If it's not all fun at your gathering, experts have advice. Shared activities are a marvel for uniting generations. Don MacMannis, a psychologist in Santa Barbara who co-wrote "How's Your Family Really Doing?", recommended doing a service activity that helps others and reminds children to count their blessings. Lindsay Gaskins, a mom and CEO of a game retailer called Marbles, said board games break the ice, promote camaraderie and bring quiet teens into activities.

"Have things to do, photo albums to look at, a tree to decorate, puzzles to put together, to keep people busy," said Tessina. "If you ask everyone to bring something like a favorite family picture, an ornament for the tree, one flower to add to an impromptu arrangement or a memento of your travels, these items can be a much safer topic of conversation."

If tensions with certain family members are known or expected, "talk in advance about what to do so you'll have a plan," Tessina said.

Sherman said it's important to have conversations with your mate, and not just around the holidays. You need to agree on boundaries. Bending occurs between couples, too, because the parent-adult child relationship is important, just as the couple relationship is.

If there's a problem, she said, it is sometimes helpful to have the person who is related do the talking. Tiff with your mother-in-law? Let your husband, her son, intervene. Kinship helps some conversations stay productive and loving.

Seeing others' relationships has taught Sherman a bit about being a mother-in-law. "I live 45 minutes from my kids and go once a week. I help and when it's time to leave, I leave. I am very aware of not overstepping my boundaries."

The exes

Attorney Jim McGinnis practices family law in Atlanta, and could write a book about what happens when families fall apart — but he doesn't have time this season. He's busy working with opposing counsel to craft holiday plans for people who can't collaborate on one: You get Mercedes and Celia from 3 to 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve. My client has them then until Dec. 27.