Like I am sure many of you are, I am looking forward to essentially every aspect of the looming Christmas and and Thanksgiving breaks. I say essentially, because, in short, there are certain aspects of that “quality family time” that my parents and grandparents always talk about, that maybe I’m not looking forward to so much.

In large part, that is because I’m not too happy about the inevitable political cross fire this Thanksgiving and Christmas. But is that an excuse? In some ways, yes. Being a five year old, watching your parents and grandparents argue about the political mumbo jumbo you scarcely understand, let alone care about, has never been fun. In fact, it sticks with you, and every time politics is brought up you find yourself biting your tongue, not voicing your opinions as to not repeat the scene from when you were five.

This season, it will only be harder. I would love to say that I can’t imagine a situation where I break, finally giving up on the peacekeeping tradition that has, more or less, been upheld since I was five. But that’s not an option. It never has been and never will be. I should know; I watched the argument before I cared about the subject matter and understood nothing about what was going on. Why was this happening? What made them so passionate as to be at each other’s throats over the breakfast table? Those were the questions I asked in my head at the time. Now I understand, and I have to prevent myself from falling into the same trap.

If your family is like mine, divided by politics, then you know what all of this is like. Unfortunately, I don’t have a magical device that will glue your mouth shut to make sure you don’t explode and expel the hard-won peace. Wouldn’t that be amazing? But that’s not what I have. I just want to remind you all, despite the fact that this year’s election is even more traumatic than all those before it, that keeping the peace over Thanksgiving and Christmas is worth it. You may not enjoy feeling as though you need to sew your lips shut, but when it all came out, when you were five, that was even less fun. If anything, maintain the peace for a younger sibling or cousin, so they, at least, don’t have to endure it before they understand what the arguing is about.

The magical device that there actually is, however, are cars, and feet, so that we can escape the situation and cool down before it becomes a repeat of the catastrophe of ten years ago. At least, that’s what I’m planning on doing. Going on a walk and maybe yelling at the neighborhood as a whole what I wanted to yell at my right-minded family members. That is my plan, however imperfect it is, it doesn’t result in fighting over the dinner table. I suggest you do it too. And remember that they are still family, despite your constant urge to sew your lips shut.