Since this article only discusses fast food joints, I will not include the all-time great wing spots, Wingstop and Buffalo Wild Wings, even though they are superior to just about every restaurant that serves wings.

But every kid with divorced parents knows the dread that creeps in as the weather grows colder and the days get shorter. It’s the dread of having to choose: Which parent will I wake up with on Christmas morning, and which one will wake up alone?

Driving an older car is like conversing with a respected mentor. They teach and provide you with experiences you wouldn’t have had if you woke up on your sweet sixteenth with a pair of keys to a new Mercedes-Benz.

While the rest of the world condemns these abominations, the U.S. stands and applauds. We send instruments of death to Israel’s genocidal project. Our weapons level their cities, with nearly 60% of all buildings in Gaza damaged or destroyed. And as generations of Palestinians are slaughtered, Israel sells property on their graves.

Real families have issues. They have tense meals and strained relationships. Being at school doesn’t fix those things; it just helps us forget about them. Regardless of the issues, our families are still our families. And what’s a better time to express our love for them than the holidays?

This holiday season, let’s try and change the conversation to something beyond how many pounds we’ve lost or gained. Shifting the focus onto other things can not only be for you, but also for other people in the room who don’t know how to speak up.