The holidays are just as good at pushing family apart as they are at bringing them together.

Because of the expectation that everybody spends this time with their relatives, it can quite easily put extra stress on already strained relationships. It is a very common time for problem family members to cause issues, sometimes before the big day(s) have even taken place. It can make what is supposed to be a celebration into a nasty memory.

For those who wind up being a part of the household that is expected to host festivities, ensuring that things go smoothly can involve some difficult decisions. If somebody is looking like they are going to be a bad guest, it can be that the best decision is to leave them out of proceedings altogether. The only hard part is breaking the news and standing firm if any protests start to take place.