The holidays are officially here. Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and while I can’t wait to get together with my family and catch up while we eat salt, sugar, butter, and the like (my family is THE BEST), I know everyone isn’t as excited.
For some, the big family gatherings can be stressful. Especially if you have relatives that constantly pester you on why you’re not married, pregnant, promoted, or president yet. (Are you even trying??)
OR – Maybe you’re hosting the Thanksgiving festivities this year, and you’re currently wondering how you’ll be able to get everything done before your hungry guests arrive. That mac and cheese is not going to make itself!
Whatever your stress trigger may be, I hope that this little survival guide of sorts helps you conquer Turkey Day 2018.
R-E-L-A-X
My friend Nadia is a therapist and a yoga enthusiast, and she posted an awesome reminder on how to stay relaxed. Bonus points if you can complete the meditation technique and not fall asleep.
Test Yourself
Take a Thanksgiving Buzzfeed quiz to pass the time. All you have to do is pick your favorite Thanksgiving food to figure out what sitcom family you would have dinner with. It’s science.
Laugh it Off
I’ve talked about my love of YouTube. I use it as a stress reliever all the time. If you need to take a bathroom break to get a breather, just lock the door and watch this YouTube video. It’s mandatory Thanksgiving watching.
Start a Conversation
OK, so you can’t be on your phone the entire family function taking Buzzfeed quizzes and watching YouTube. Sometimes the key to a great conversation, is having the right starter. Here are some ideas.
Don’t Mess with the Mac and Cheese
If you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year, or if you’ve volunteered to bring the mac and cheese. The best thing you can do is don’t. mess. It. Up. We all saw what happened when Food Network thought they could improve upon a perfect food. Or what happens when folks feel the need to improvise. Don’t You Do it!
Bribery
This one is for the moms. If you’re like me, then you’ll be bringing your kids to someone else’s house on Thanksgiving, and you want to make sure they’re on their best behavior. And if you’re also like me, then you’d like to avoid the constant disciplining that goes with keeping a toddler in line, so other guests won’t have to continually hear you saying “Stop running!” “Inside voices, please!” “Don’t put that in your mouth!”
So, bribe your kids. It’s a fact after the meal there will be delicious pies, cobblers, and cakes. Let them know before your arrival that if they act up, no treats for them! And when they inevitably forget and start misbehaving anyway, just quietly remind them “hmmm…I don’t think that’s sweet potato pie behavior” Works like a charm.