Family Separation During the Holidays in 2025

It’s that time of year again, but in this hyper-polarized environment of 2025, family separations are, well, surprisingly common.

In the words of today’s youth, it’s all about “no contact.” Breakups like this are so frequent that Oprah Winfrey recently dedicated an entire episode of her podcast to the topic.

In this episode, therapist Dr. Joshua Coleman remarked on the significant change in our family dynamics, suggesting that severing ties with family is now viewed as a “noble act” for maintaining mental health—a notion he seems to find troubling.

This trend has, of course, spilled over into social media.

Take, for instance, Ariel Fodor, known as Mrs. Frazzled. She’s a leftist influencer who positions herself as a mentor to adults navigating life. One of her quirks includes chatting with fictional characters, all while embodying a rather condescending tone, much like an overzealous kindergarten teacher.

She gained notoriety from her “White Women for Kamala” Zoom meetings, where she notably advised her fellow white women to, well, stay silent if a person of color was present.

“If you find yourself in a position to speak for BIPOC individuals, just take a step back,” she implored. “It’s time to listen.”

Recently, she hosted a discussion about a fictional transphobic family member at Thanksgiving. Before deleting it, she tweeted:

“Much love to everyone dealing with family members in a cult, and to those who have chosen to leave.” It made me wonder—aren’t cults about isolating people from their families?

Another viral video featured a young woman lamenting missing Thanksgiving with her conservative relatives. She declared, “This is no longer a political issue; it’s a human rights issue,” echoing sentiments straight from the “no contact” manual.

When time passes, and her parents are gone, along with Trump from the political scene, I wonder what she’ll think of her estrangement. At least she’ll have her video, right?

It’s no surprise loneliness seems to be on the rise, especially after Trump’s election last year. “The View” co-host Sunny Hostin expressed her support for avoiding ideological conflicts during family gatherings, while George Takei encouraged people to turn away from Trump supporters. Joy Reid seemed to revel in the notion of separating from politically opposing family members.

Dr. Amanda Calhoun, a psychiatrist from Yale, claimed it’s acceptable to steer clear of relatives who support Trump. Yet, I wonder—maybe she needs to reflect on the bigger picture?

Even on the other side, Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna suggested hosting a contest at Thanksgiving where people could debate their liberal family members. “What do you think?” she asked on social media. Personally, I think that’s a sign Floridians might need to rethink their priorities.

As we head into the holiday season, it’s wise to avoid falling into these traps. Don’t let political differences push you away from family and friends. And please, be cautious of anyone who promotes such divisive behavior.

The holidays are hectic enough without complex political discussions. There’s plenty to argue about, whether it’s inheritance disputes or who gets the last slice of pie.

Look, family relationships can be messy and difficult. But they also hold a unique value—those connections are built on shared history rather than just political views.

Ultimately, these bonds are more rewarding than a one-sided relationship with an influencer. After all, Mrs. Frazzled isn’t inviting you to her table.