No family is perfect and familial relationships can be really difficult and complicated. All families have arguments and fights every so often, and some even get to the point where people who were once close become estranged from each other. In order to avoid this happening to you, you should be prepared for some of the types of arguments you may have with your family at some point. Here are 4 common causes of disputes and disagreements within families.
Estate Planning
Oftentimes when the matriarch or patriarch of a family passes away, there can be nasty arguments among those left behind regarding the estate. In order to keep this from happening, many people opt to start estate planning early so that everything is clear, fair, and legal. Unfortunately, the planning process itself can also cause arguments. Make sure to protect your assets by having a lawyer present for all conversations you have with your children or other family members regarding your estate.
Illness
If someone in a family becomes gravely ill, everyone who loves that person will be under a lot of stress and therefore less equipped than usual to deal with things in a level-headed way. Normal conversations can become tense, and there can be major disagreements or fights over how best to care for the ill family member. Try to remember that you all have the ill person’s best interests at heart and in the end you all want the same things. This will help to keep you more calm during these hard times.
Children
When someone in your family has children, you may notice that everyone else in the family will often try to weigh in on the best ways to raise them. This can cause fights between family members when they ultimately disagree on decisions regarding the children. In these situations it is best to keep in mind that ultimately each parent (or legal guardian) gets to make the decisions when it comes to underage kids. Even though the Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, etc. love the children very much, it is not their choice to decide where they go to school, what their bedtime is, and so on.
Significant Others
If you or someone else in your family is dating or married to someone that other family members do not like, this can be a huge cause of arguments. You may even be forced to choose between your significant other or your family, so it is a good idea to think very carefully about this before making any brash decisions. Listen to your family and consider what they have to say. At the end of the day, it is your choice who you decide to date or marry, but often your family is only acting out of love for you.
Family disputes are never fun and can be awkward, uncomfortable, and even devastating. Keep in mind that just because you are related to someone doesn’t mean you have to be tied to them forever, but that being said, do try to approach all arguments with a clear mind.