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Family Personalities at the Holidays
Posted by ThriftShopRomantic • 9/08/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: dynamics, family, holidays, humor, personalities, relatives
After spending some time with a friend's family over Labor Day, I was thinking how there seem to be a certain amount of family personality types that are common-- at least here in the U.S.
Is your Aunt Tillie a "Rube Goldberg Worrier"?
Is Uncle George a "Negative Nelly"?
Is your little brother an "Aeroponic Tot?"
Find out!:
www.cabbagesnkings.net/2009/09/non-official-guide-to-family-holiday.html
And I'd love to hear your contributions for personality types which I may have missed.
Folks outside the U.S.-- do these carry over at all for where you live, or are you faced with some different family interactions at holiday time?
This is wholly unscientific, and broadly generalized. I just thought we might be able to have a little fun with it.
User Comments
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You forgot the obnoxious drunk
I'm definitely the flash, but only because I don't want to hang out with a bunch 50 year olds-
You know, I haven't seen the full-fledged obnoxious drunk-- but I HAVE repeatedly seen the relative who brings booze for just himself.
Everybody else has a dessert and some kind of main dish...
And Cousin Leroy has his styrofoam covered can o' Iron City.
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Count yourself lucky.
The old neighbor lady (fun sucking vortex) said our music was too loud, I didn't even know we had music. And the OD decided to make the point to the neighbor by yelling. "IS THIS LOUD ENOUGH FOR YOU!?!" "YOUR LAWN MOWER IS TOO LOUD, IM TRYING TO ENJOY MY AFTERNOON!!"
among other things. Cheap beer is usually nearby the OD. -
I think it's obligatory.
Your whole scene there was very visual, by the way. -
It unfortunately happened yesterday... Which could be why I turned into the flash
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Well, as long as you're the Flash and not The Streak.
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Well... sometimes I am the Flash Streak...er
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Somehow I knew it.
"There he goes... with nothin' on but a smile...."
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It absolutely carried over non-US families. My big Mexican family (Grandma had 14 children) has every category you have in your post plus combinations of 2-3 of them. There is one that you don't have: the I-pity-you-for-being-single aunt. I have one aunt that asks me if I'm dating anyone every time she sees me, the rest of my aunts (and some cousins) transform into that category every Christmas-New Year season *shudders*. Great post!-
Ah, yes-- that's a good one! That's not just in Mexico, either. My one aunt was really good at that. If I didn't leave feeling worse than when I arrived, then it just wasn't an effective family event.
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Exactly! She stopped for a while after her daughter asked for a divorce and a restraining order for her husband. I'm sure that as soon as she starts dating again she will go at it too.
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Yeah, the restraining order sort of puts a damper on wanting your young people to socialize more.
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That was a great post! I'm more of a storyteller myself. Usually with the kids, a big adventure is created.
But it's like Deray said, it's carried over on non-USA families, at least in my case also haha. I have one aunt who loves to compare her kids and herself to others and to see if she does it better. Her kids are usually also a 'genius' in whatever they're doing. This can get quite annoying after a while!
Oh I forgot! I have an uncle who always 'forgets' important things. And everyone knows he didn't forget, but we play along anyway ^_^-
Ah-- so you've reminded me-- I forgot to include an important one!!!--
The OneUpsman. The relative who no matter what you or your kids have been doing, they've been doing more fabulous things (even if they aren't), their kids are smarter, they make more money (even if they're in debt), etc.
They're also probably the family that sends you those elaborate "What I Did This Year in Summary" form letters everyone seems to receive. -
Wow! You're description is spot on!! Well, she hasn't started sending out letters...I think it's only a small step away.
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My bro & I are mellow...I didn't really see a mellow category. On the other hand, our Aunt Fran will be constantly on the run, trying to serve others; let me make you a sandwich, get you a beer, etc. During our last visit, I physically trapped her in a chair in a corner so she'd HAVE to just relax & gab. Still she asked, "You sure you don't want a sandwich?" The woman's DRIVEN!-
Oh YES. I know a few of those! It's part good hostessing, part OCD, I think.
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Hahah I have a few family members who can act like that too!
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The "Praise Jesus" Aunt
The "When I was yo age" uncle
The sneak to the back yard and smoke pot with you uncle (That would be Tony in our fam)
To name a few...-
I like that you've boiled them down into only a few words, and I still have a pretty clear idea of who you're talking about.
I believe the Praise Jesus Aunt may be akin to the woman my hairdresser refers to as "The Halleluja Lady," who speed walks in the mall regularly with her headphones on, listening to religious sermons and just going to town with the Praising aloud.
Did the "When I Was Yo Age" uncle walk to school uphill both ways? -
IN SNOW....lol
Don't forget the Praise the Lord Aunt also catches the holy ghost at the supermarket check out line when she finds out her ground rump is 20% off. -
Heh... okay, that totally made me laugh aloud.
I believe I have shopped with your Praise the Lord Aunt. -
I used to be a backyard sneaker, too.
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There's always the uncle that can kick the younger kids' asses in something, and take great pride. Ping-pong, wrestling (arm and in the yard), Stratego, etc.. He had to pick on someone he could always beat.-
We had an uncle who didn't beat up the kids, but would sneak up on them and squeeze the breath out of him.
I guess if I were forced to give him a name, he would be The Boa Constrictor.
Yours, I might call the Sore Winner.
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The 'When are you having kids' aunt-
Does she transform from the "Why Are You Still Single" Aunt to the "When Are You Having Kids" Aunt?
And if so, I wonder where she goes from there... -
She then turns into the "You don't know how to raise kids properly" Aunt, or the UFARK Aunt
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Such aunts are unstoppable They don't hold back anything.
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I think you two are right. You've seen the future, and it's... the Unending Judgment Aunt.
One, to quote PG Wodehouse, who "eats broken bottles for breakfast." -
The methamorphosis is like follows:
Aww, you are still single
(when you do have a boyfriend) when are you getting married?
(when you marry) when are you getting pregnant?
(3 months after you gave birth) when can we expect the second baby?
(if you have another baby soon) jeez, you should stop having babies!
All the previous are followed by: my daughter... -
Heh... so true. And there's just no pleasing them.
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