Thanksgiving is a holiday that usually includes celebrations in the form of whatever traditions your family has established. Over time, families change, and this can cause conflict about how and where to spend Thanksgiving. Here is some advice that you can use to help survive another Thanksgiving holiday with your relatives.
There are some Thanksgiving traditions that most people who celebrate this holiday choose to do every year. People gather together with as many family members as possible, and spend time with each other.
One can expect that dinner will include a turkey, some stuffing, lots of vegetables, and maybe some pumpkin pie for dessert. Football games, and Thanksgiving parades, might be watched. Some families will say a prayer before everyone starts to eat their Thanksgiving dinner.
Unfortunately, many families find that Thanksgiving also includes unwanted drama. This can take many forms. Perhaps there is an argument going on about exactly which family member should host Thanksgiving dinner this year.
Sometimes, there are family members who attempt to give others a “guilt trip” about where that person has decided to spend Thanksgiving. There could be lingering issues that have been unresolved for years, that are still causing tension.
How are you going to navigate your way around the family drama, and be able to enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday? One thing you can do is leave the emotional baggage at the door. This is not the time to attempt to get an apology from a family member about some incident that happened years ago. This isn’t the time to lecture a relative about what he or she should be doing differently. Just let it go, for now.
Another thing that will help is if you are very clear about where you will be. If you are going to your spouse’s mother’s house for Thanksgiving dinner this year, then say so. Don’t tell other relatives that you will try and drop by their homes if you know you will not be doing that. Be clear, and stick to your plan. If someone tries to give you a “guilt trip”, well, that doesn’t mean you have to accept it.
If you have young children, make sure that you bring snacks with you. Most little kids get a bit cranky when they are hungry. Make sure you have something on hand to feed them if dinner runs later than expected.
Those of you who have to travel really far away from home in order to spend Thanksgiving with your relatives may want to check into a hotel. This will enable you to have some privacy that you might not receive if you stay in the home of one of your relatives. It also gives you somewhere to escape to if things get dramatic, and you need to leave.
Image by Philms on Flickr