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The Daily Dish The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Here's How the Giudice and Gorga Families Can Keep the Holiday Peace Going into 2019

The sisters-in-law are in a good place. But can it stay there?

By Marianne Garvey
Joe, Teresa, and Melissa Finally Make up!

The Real Housewives of New Jersey sisters-in-law Teresa Giudice and Melissa's Gorga's relationship has gone from bad to worse to awful to much better to great to like sisters. Oof, we know, it's a lot.

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Currently, the two and their families are on good terms, with Joe Gorga reminding them they are sisters and that family is everything (in the clip above). But can they keep the peace in 2019? Cheers to that. This past year they had their usual ups and downs (old fights, new topics) but they celebrated together with joint family party on Christmas Eve.

Relationship coach Laurie Davis Edwards tells Personal Space keeping the peace between the two is possible if they do the following:

 

1. Focus on what they love about each other

 

"If your family tends to trigger you, flood your system with serotonin before you see them," Edwards says. "Think about why you love them, what’s important to you about spending the holidays together, and any other joyful, love-filled thoughts you can conjure up. Not only will it be more likely to keep your energy positive, but it will begin to create new associations with your family."

 

2. Stay away from fire-starting topics

 

"You know what they are — the topics that you already differ on that seem to come up again and again," Edwards says. (Oh, like who's taking care of daddy more) 

"If you’ve had this argument before, why repeat it and add more fuel to the fire? If a family member brings it up, shut it down before it begins. You can redirect to another topic of conversation of take the direct approach and say something like, 'We always agree to disagree on this, so let’s not go there.' Then, ask a question on something unrelated to move away from their comment."

 

3. Stop making people choose sides

 

But be sure not to ask people to add an opinion, a comment, or otherwise put themselves in the conversation. Joe Gorga's usually caught in this spot, between his wife and his sister. "Getting someone involved will usually keep the disagreement going — even if it wasn’t your intention," says Edwards.

Credit: Melissa Gorga/Instagram

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