Discuss holiday protocols ahead of the holiday season

Not giving Grandma COVID- 19 is this holiday season’s best gift, according to experts. Now is the time to discuss how to say no to gatherings when safety is not a priority.

When family members disagree about COVID-19 safety precautions, planning holiday celebrations is fraught with conflict and potential health risk. And with the recent spike in positive cases of the virus, should we be gathering at all?

“If an extended family member insists on dismissing guidance, it’s OK to sit out this year’s family gathering. It’s really sad and difficult, but we have to think about our own core values,” said Northwestern Medicine psychiatrist Dr. Aderonke Pederson. “If you start from a standpoint of, ‘My number one core value is doing my part to protect my family,’ that’s the greatest gift you can give your family this holiday season.”

• Have smaller, socially distanced gatherings “Here’s the main question: Are you going to blow up your