Really great, honest share, Tiffany! When I was a kid, Thanksgiving and Christmas were the exact chaos that you describe. I'm not sure how my parents handled it...maybe they really didn't...
Anyways, I'm eternally grateful for much lower key holiday experiences now that I'm older (and wiser?) :P
This is the exact reason I prefer to host big gatherings. It gives me something to focus on and a purpose.
My mom always wants me to “just relax” after dinner and I would rather stab myself in the eye with a rusty fork than let those dirty dishes sit there and be forced into a conversations I clearly want no part of.
All of this Nancy! >> I would rather stab myself in the eye with a rusty fork than let those dirty dishes sit there and be forced into a conversations I clearly want no part of.
What a great tactic to just host so you can keep busy all day! I never thought of hosting as solving that problem so well, but you are right that it absolutely does! Thanks so much for reading and sharing your solution ;-)
OMG this is so great. I must say that I generally don't have this problem because I have the absolute gift of living close to all my immediate family and in-laws. That means everything is always in short, manageable doses. Three hours tends to be my limit, and everyone feels like I participated. I'm so blessed. I have tons of extended family in TX that I do occasionally go visit. I stay in a hotel so that I can go around and have my short but amazing visits with everyone. Alternatively I stay with my 60-something yr old aunt who is always out training for an Ironman or Ultraman - so she lets me use her house like a hotel and we get lots of short quality time together too and she goes to bed at 8:30. Those are my tips, I SO appreciate yours and, to quote the president, they have my full, unqualified 100% endorsement!
This is actually super interesting context! I never actually thought about the fact that what might make it MORE challenging is that it's so 'special'/out of the ordinary! It's kind of refreshing to notice that even a 'good at holidays' person likes a 3 hour visit over an all day (all weekend/all week) affair.
Hotel is a REALLY good idea. And I need to meet this Aunt one day. Alternatively maybe she can start a substack on how to complete Ironman's at 60 something...??
Lastly, of course THIS... ( I SO appreciate yours and, to quote the president, they have my full, unqualified 100% endorsement!) made me LOL.
Thanks for reading! Now go write a banger article for next week cause I can HARDLY WAIT!
Great advice! I can't stand just sitting around at holiday gatherings. My sons and I walked 1.7 miles to get beers on Wednesday, went shooting yesterday before the big dinner, and will probably do a short hike today. We have much more interesting conversations while we're doing something else.
That sounds so lovely! So many people REALLY enjoy sitting and chatting for 16 hours, but I can only take so much! I love the hike and shooting idea. I can totally see how the physical activity would make the conversation and time much more interesting! I'm going to have to try that- seriously.
Really great, honest share, Tiffany! When I was a kid, Thanksgiving and Christmas were the exact chaos that you describe. I'm not sure how my parents handled it...maybe they really didn't...
Anyways, I'm eternally grateful for much lower key holiday experiences now that I'm older (and wiser?) :P
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Low key is the way for me too! Thanks for reading!
This is the exact reason I prefer to host big gatherings. It gives me something to focus on and a purpose.
My mom always wants me to “just relax” after dinner and I would rather stab myself in the eye with a rusty fork than let those dirty dishes sit there and be forced into a conversations I clearly want no part of.
All of this Nancy! >> I would rather stab myself in the eye with a rusty fork than let those dirty dishes sit there and be forced into a conversations I clearly want no part of.
What a great tactic to just host so you can keep busy all day! I never thought of hosting as solving that problem so well, but you are right that it absolutely does! Thanks so much for reading and sharing your solution ;-)
OMG this is so great. I must say that I generally don't have this problem because I have the absolute gift of living close to all my immediate family and in-laws. That means everything is always in short, manageable doses. Three hours tends to be my limit, and everyone feels like I participated. I'm so blessed. I have tons of extended family in TX that I do occasionally go visit. I stay in a hotel so that I can go around and have my short but amazing visits with everyone. Alternatively I stay with my 60-something yr old aunt who is always out training for an Ironman or Ultraman - so she lets me use her house like a hotel and we get lots of short quality time together too and she goes to bed at 8:30. Those are my tips, I SO appreciate yours and, to quote the president, they have my full, unqualified 100% endorsement!
This is actually super interesting context! I never actually thought about the fact that what might make it MORE challenging is that it's so 'special'/out of the ordinary! It's kind of refreshing to notice that even a 'good at holidays' person likes a 3 hour visit over an all day (all weekend/all week) affair.
Hotel is a REALLY good idea. And I need to meet this Aunt one day. Alternatively maybe she can start a substack on how to complete Ironman's at 60 something...??
Lastly, of course THIS... ( I SO appreciate yours and, to quote the president, they have my full, unqualified 100% endorsement!) made me LOL.
Thanks for reading! Now go write a banger article for next week cause I can HARDLY WAIT!
Great advice! I can't stand just sitting around at holiday gatherings. My sons and I walked 1.7 miles to get beers on Wednesday, went shooting yesterday before the big dinner, and will probably do a short hike today. We have much more interesting conversations while we're doing something else.
That sounds so lovely! So many people REALLY enjoy sitting and chatting for 16 hours, but I can only take so much! I love the hike and shooting idea. I can totally see how the physical activity would make the conversation and time much more interesting! I'm going to have to try that- seriously.