5 Ways to Survive Thanksgiving Dinner with Your Family

It’s almost that time of year when it’s inevitable to avoid the people closest to you because, like it or not, the holidays are meant to be spent with family. You can decide to skip out on grandma’s famous sweet potatoes or come to dinner ready to answer questions about your current relationship or lack thereof, school, or future plans. You can choose to be truthful or be as passive aggressive as possible to avoid tension and possible fights that will linger long past Christmas. Either way everyone’s waiting to hear what you’ve got to say, so choose your words wisely.

Some families wait until the appropriate time and place to discuss family business, but if you’re in my family, your business is everyone’s business and nine times out of ten everyone already knows what’s been going on because no one can keep secrets including your mama and siblings.   Most conversations get heated right before dinner, and if you’re lucky someone that’s mature will clear the air before the tension rise too high and if not, watch out! Joyful celebrations can turn ugly quickly, and the best way to avoid drama is not to cause any.  Don’t stir the pot, and try to stay clear of gossip. We all have a few family members, we wouldn’t mind switching, but in reality you can’t choose your loved ones and life wouldn’t be as entertaining without them especially the holidays.

Of course, every family has their mess, but you can’t deny the good times that come along with the holidays.  We all have that one uncle that get drunk and try to sing every oldie but goodie that comes on the radio,  that cousin that’s always cracking jokes or that aunt that doesn’t speak to anyone because she’s just uptight or mad about something that happened  ten years ago. Each family is unique, but the one thing that you can count on  is someone bringing up an old conversation about what should’ve, could’ve’, would’ve happened years ago.

Family is family and the good thing about family is that you can laugh, cry, and argue, but at the end of the day we all have a place and it’s always better to stick together.  The shade will come, but it’s best to let it roll off your shoulders so the night won’t end too fast. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and appreciate all of the good times too. We can’t go through life always looking forward to the bad, but  instead we should also enjoy those good times that don’t happen quite often. You only get one family so enjoy them while it last.  Happy Thanksgiving!!!

1.    Speak To everyone – regardless of past issues be respectful.

2.    Bring a dish. Please do not come empty handed.

3.    Don’t push buttons- Try not to agitate anyone?

4.    Don’t Assume – It’s important not to assume anything, you can be wrong.

5.    Have a positive attitude -It won’t cost you anything to be nice.