This is the time of year when the most family get-togethers occur. It’s wonderful for a genealogist to remember to spend time with living family members, and to take a step away from researching ancestors from time to time. Most families, however, have a nasty tendency to tease, bother, or just plain “bug” each other. A new study on marmots finds that being picked on, or bullied, could actually be genetic. Let’s face it, even the happiest of families is not perfectly happy all of the time. It’s normal for there to be days that are blissful, as well as … Continue reading →

Christmas is a time when many family memories are created and preserved. Unfortunately, there is a shadow side to Christmas that many of us would like to pretend does not exist. The things that happen on the dark side of Christmas tend to become family secrets or things that no one talks about and hopes will eventually be forgotten. The dark side of Christmas can manifest in ways that range from the subtle to the impossible to ignore. Tensions that have lain dormant within families can be reignited by careless comments. In the very worst cases, things can get violent. … Continue reading →