Home for the Drama-days: How to Deal with Family Drama During the Holidays

Home for the Drama-Days: How to Deal with Family and Keep Your Cool at Family Holiday Gatherings (Without Matching Chaos)

The holidays are here and so are the opinions, comments, old stories, and emotionally charged casseroles.

In this laugh-out-loud episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, Ashley and Heidi tackle one of the most universal December dilemmas: going home to family dynamics that haven’t evolved… even when you have.

If you’ve leveled up personally, professionally, or spiritually — and suddenly feel like the calmest person in a very loud room, this episode is your emotional safety plan and holiday family drama guide. 

 In this episode, we cover:

• How to identify common holiday family archetypes (the lifestyle commentator, the emotional historian, the chaos instigator, and more)
• Why 'matching energy' is a trap and how composure becomes your most powerful boundary
• Easy, Elegant boundary scripts you can actually use at the table (polite, polished, and non-confrontational)
• What to say when relatives comment on your body, career, relationship, food choices, or past self
• How to stay calm when someone gets loud, dramatic, or emotionally volatile
• The hosting mindset inspired by Martha Stewart and Ina Garten how to create environments that naturally regulate behavior
• How to navigate family gatherings when you’ve grown… and they haven’t
• Graceful exit strategies (soft exits, early departures, and the classic British fade)
• Calming composure affirmations to ground you before, during, or after any gathering

This episode is for women who:

• Are tired of shrinking to keep the peace
• Want to enjoy the holidays without absorbing everyone else’s emotions
• Believe boundaries can be set with grace, humor, and authority
• Know that composure is the new flex

Because at High Heels, Higher Standards, we don’t match chaos —
we match composure.

🎧 Press play, pour something cozy, and remember:
You’re allowed to enjoy the holidays with elegance, not obligation.

Keep your heels high, and your standards higher. 👠✨

Support the show

Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast

Thank you for listening, lovelies!