The ties that bind  

While Hallmark may suggest otherwise, family reunions at Christmas time aren't always all they're cracked up to be. Old grudges, political differences, and unresolved conflicts can create a tension at your holiday dinner that's tougher to cut through than an overdone turkey. Sound like your family? Read our tips on how to stay joyful and triumphant when celebrating with your family.

But there are some family tensions that last long after the presents are opened and the decorations are packed away, namely the kind that involve decisions on how to care for our aging parents. How do you respectfully tell mom or dad that it might be time for them to start asking for a little more help? Or if you're starting to reach your golden years, will you be "burdening" your kids if you ask for their assistance?

In this month's Sounding Board, Patrick Lynch argues that there's no need to be tense about asking for, or offering, help. In fact, it can be a blessing for the whole family. What do you think? Take our survey and let us know whether adults caring for their elderly parents is a case of the more the merrier or a recipe for disaster.