Texas-Sized Family Fights: What Not to Bring Up This Holiday Season

Alright everybody, the holidays are almost here, and that means it’s time for turkey, tamales, and—let’s be honest—family feuds bigger than Texas!

According to a recent poll from Trust & Will, 40% of families admit to some “open disagreements” during holiday gatherings. And that’s without anyone mentioning the Cowboys’ abysmal record.

The number one spark for these tensions? Politics (obviously), with 34% of people saying it’s a frequent point of contention between family members. It doesn’t matter if it’s blue, red, or somewhere in between; nothing gets the cranberry sauce flying like a political argument. My advice? Just don't bring it up.

Coming in at a close second, with 32%, are 'family dynamics and past grievances'. In other words, that “remember-when” story that turns into an argument about who got the bigger slice of Meemaw's pecan pie back in 1998. In Texas, family is sacred, but we all know some memories should stay buried deeper than a West Texas oil well.

Tied for third place are relationships and finances at 25%. It’s not exactly the holiday spirit to remind someone they’re still single—or that they bought a new truck when they can barely afford the gas. Around here, my aunts and mom would say, “Bless your heart', but we all know what that really means.

Here’s why this matters: the poll found that one in three holiday fights turns into a “lasting rift.” That’s the kind of thing that’ll make your family reunion awkward for years to come.

Instead, stick to safe, Texas-approved topics: favorite BBQ joints, the weather in Lubbock, or whether Dr Pepper really is better out of a glass bottle. And if things get heated? Just bring out another slice of pie—because nothing cools off an argument like pie!