It’s officially holiday season! That means it’s time to revisit the delightful diversion known as Dysfunctional Family Bingo created by author Martha Beck. If I’d known about this gem when my family of origin was still in tact, I would have had tons more fun…and I would have had a good chance of winning every year. Our dysfunction was stellar!

Screenshots of Martha‘s original instructions, an example page, and a blank bingo sheet are below for you to print and enjoy… 

So… In order to play, you try and get a couple of your friends to play along so that you have the fun of other people‘s dysfunction as well as your own! Each of you fills out your bingo square with your own family quirks that you’re predicting for the event. So you might be predicting that your uncle gets drunk and that your mom criticizes your hair. Your friend fills out her own card with her own predictions, like her cousin conveniently forgetting to bring the mashed potatoes for the fourth year in a row… Or whatever. When your prediction comes true, you X-out that square. The first person to get bingo is the winner. And the other friend or friends agree ahead of time to take the winner out to lunch!

I apologize for posting this at the last minute. You may not have time to do it for Thanksgiving. But… You do have time to prepare and plan for a roaring good time for Christmas and even family New Year’s celebrations!

~~~And now, all joking aside… I know that the holidays can be challenging in so many ways. For some, the family responsibilities are overwhelming. And for others, there may not be any family gatherings, and the loneliness can be overwhelming. I have been on both sides of this overwhelm. And although the weights are different, they are equally burdensome.

Please know that, wherever you fall on the spectrum of holiday challenges… The most important thing is for you to be gentle with yourself. Give yourself the gift of love and kindness and gentle support regardless of what the holiday looks like for you this year. You are absolutely deserving of your own love and gentleness. 💜

I’m glad you’re here 💜

This post is part of the month long blogging challenge called Nanopoblano. Please visit my other blogging team members below 

NOVEMBER 2025 CHEER PEPPERS BLOGGING TEAM…..

***CHEER PEPPERS DOING 30 POSTS IN 30 DAYS….

Amy at

https://lotusgirl80.wordpress.com/

Ellise at

https://bipolarandmotherhood.ca/

Kelli at

https://rewritingkel.wordpress.com/

Marley at

https://dailybastardette.com/

Ocean Bream at

https://oceanbream.wordpress.com/?_gl=1%2Avwggoh%2A_gcl_au%2AMTQ2NTc4NTAyLjE3NTk1NzAwNzIuNTA0NjE5NDUyLjE3NjE0ODk3MjMuMTc2MTQ4OTczNw

***CHEER PEPPERS DOING 3 POSTS PER WEEK…..

Hastywords at

https://hastywords.com/

Jacque at

https://www.jacquestonehocker.com/

Janet at

https://substack.com/@janetjonesbann?r=9ogxc&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile

Steven at

https://stevenglassman.com/

💜