"How do I handle my distant relatives?"

Dear Princess,

Some of my distant relatives are coming to visit for the holidays and they are Jehovah's Witnesses.; I don't know much about this religion and I don't want to offend anyone, what's the appropriate way to handle it ?

     I can definitely see your frustrations with the issue at hand.  The best advice I can offer is be open and mindful of your other family member's beliefs. I'm not saying compromise your beliefs for the pleasures of others, but be mindful in the conversations that you hold. Since it is your family I'm sure they will understand.  When it comes to gifting, I wouldn't give them Christmas gifts per se, I would just pick a random day to give to them. I would suggest family dinners so those who don't celebrate the holidays won't necessarily feel left out. Try your best not to make them feel uncomfortable, because it is a religion. Regarding birthdays, be mindful, try not to bring them up. With my research, Jehovah's Witnesses don't celebrate any holidays or birthdays. This is mind blowing to me because with my family the holidays are the glue of our family. I can only imagine your confusion. You may want to talk to the family members who are Jehovah's Witnesses and ask them what their feelings are. Maybe discuss how you can accommodate both them, and you. A lot of times we worry, and stress about issues and they really aren't that stressful. I believe this is one of those matters. It's all a matter of communication.  I don't know how strong of a foundation you have with your family, but if its anything like the one I have with my family, you will come out best if you just sit down and talk to them. Be wise with word choice. It may just turn out better than you think. Good Luck!!!