Family reunions can be very stressful and by the time you have it all organized and it’s done with, you might realize you had no fun at all because you spent the entire time trying to make everyone else happy. Sure you will have great pictures and everyone will say “What a great reunion!” but you should be a PART of the reunion as well as just the organizer.

Here are some simple tips to help make sure all the work doesn’t fall on your shoulders. The first thing you should ever do is remember to stay ahead of the game. If you are having the reunion outdoors, have a backup plan just in case it rains. If you are barbecuing for everyone, be sure to have extra everything. Coals, gas, plates, cups, food, and drinks. Even if nobody likes your barbecued salmon, you will have plenty for yourself later on.

Make sure you have people to help you clean also. Even a small family can annihilate a park with trash. Don’t organize the entire thing by yourself. Many people do this and it can really ruin the experience for them. If your spouse wants nothing to do with it, get a sibling or parent to help you. If your sons and daughters have their own families, delegate some responsibility to them. You did make them after all.

Don’t expect your family reunion to be absolutely perfect. When you get a big group of people together, there is bound to be an issue or two. If you let everyone drink beer all day, all evening, odds are you will have to scrape at least one family member off the ground and get them home. People are unpredictable so as long as you remember that, when something weird happens, you can laugh and try to resolve it easily.