Family reunions can be an awkward experience for many people. Some families are very tight-knit and are updated about what everyone else is up to, while some others are distant and only meet once in a while, like during Thanksgiving. There are some topics which are more sensitive than others and can cause quite a stir if brought up during a gathering. How can you help avoid these awkward discussions? Well, one way is by doing a criminal record search of your family members before you meet with them.
This might seem odd but an online record check of your family’s criminal history can save a lot of embarrassment. Online public records searches wield results from different records. They range from someone’s contact information and current address, to court cases for violent offenses or listings in sex offender registries. You may find out who among your family members has drinking or drug abuse problems. You may learn that your uncle was once arrested for hitting your aunt. You may find out that your brother got ticketed for speeding that one night he took your dad’s car without his permission. Most importantly, you could find out what topics should be avoided when interacting with your family members. You don’t want to accidentally trigger a bad memory they’ve experienced or bring up issues they’re not comfortable talking about. You can learn so much about them before you meet them again.
If you’re going to a family reunion, do your research about your family members. You may learn more about them than you’d initially thought. You could find out which relatives can be a positive influence towards you or might do you some harm. Be prepared when attending so that you can attend these reunions in confidence instead of fear of offending somebody.