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Avoid asking personal and potentially painful questions about marriage, kids, or weight.

Redirect awkward questions with neutral topics or praise to keep conversations comfortable.

Never ask why someone isn't drinking alcohol—accept their choice without follow-up or judgment.

As a therapist, I hear every year about my clients' anxieties around holiday gatherings. Sometimes, the worry is rooted in knowing they will have to field awkward and inappropriate questions from family members and friends. So, I put together this little cheat sheet of questions to avoid asking this holiday season, what you can ask instead, and how you can respond if someone asks you one of these questions.

When Are You Having A(nother) Baby?

Regardless of how close you think you are to someone, do not ask questions about their reproductive plans unprompted. If the information is relevant, or if they want you to have that information, they will offer it up. Fertility is a sensitive topic for many reasons. You might unknowingly be bringing up:

Infertility: Someone who has been trying to get pregnant might not want to talk about it over dinner, especially if they do not feel they are close enough to you to share that information.

Miscarriage: Someone who is grieving a miscarriage could find this question triggering, and........

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