Festival Frenzy

Psychiatrist Dr. Bharat Shah says, "If family members are at war, they may be forced to put social mask in front of the family, but undercurrents of trouble are evident."

The kind and intensity of the tensions also depends on what the siblings have fought over. If it is something that is petty, like not keeping in touch for a while, the situation can be solved with a little initiative and talk.

However if it is something serious such as a property dispute, where one has tried to cheat the other, there is a possibility things could spiral out of control. Keeping your cool and seeking protection if need be is extremely important in such situation.

A few siblings tell you why they fought. They also tell you what they did when they met their siblings during a festival.

Holiday Gone Wrong

Eileen Fernandes, 39 and her family looked forward to their annual Goan holiday. They had just brought a two bedroom flat there and looked forward to inaugurating it.

Eileen's brother Ralph too joined them along with his wife and three children. Ralph and his wife not only corrected their own children but also Eileen's.

"We were on a holiday. I didn't want anyone picking on my kids all the time. Telling them not to play in the sun because they would get dark was the last straw. It might have sounded petty but I put my foot down," says Eileen.

That was also the beginning of her brother Ralph cold shouldering her and her family. Things were very uncomfortable when Eileen and her family went to visit her mother who lives with Ralph. What was worse was that Ralph told his kids not to talk to Eileen or her kids.

All their festivals now resembled a cold war-zone with open hostilities between the brother, sister and their children.

Family Counseling to the Rescue helps you deal with all your family issues.