https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:59:28 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice/page/2#post-1863751 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 20:33:58 +0000 unfrumped 1863751@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Also late to the party, but some combination of a tradition and a changeable part can be fun. So maybe dinner on the day, and every year the family plans something g for the weekend— like the picnic, or some kind a short trip, maybe to a rural spot, or kids museums. My kids loved a “ staycation we did one year and did stuff they wanted to do.<br /> Also, for the feast day, it’s a great time for simple kid crafts- our kids made placecards with markets and stickers, or rolled napkins. Look for “ fun food” like fresh fruit in<br /> turkey shape, or holiday cupcakes, sparkling apple juice. These can be along with several very traditional foods. Or try a dish from another country each year and learn about the country. </p> <p>I have also struggled with holidays because I’ve always had to work several holidays each year, not the same ones each year, and have family in other states less able to travel. So every year is s different combination of holiday at home with just family, sometimes hosting visiting family, sometimes long days in the hospital, or going out of town and so skipping “ home preparations and decorating “ as there would not be time to do it all. I have done traditional decor and cooking but might skip years doing it! I can never really say “ every year we always...”.<br /> A funny thing re: kids abilities- one Thanksgiving when I had to work all day, DH and kiddos made meatloaf for Thanksgiving supper! We had a feast they loved and they were so proud to have made dinner for mommy! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice/page/2#post-1863678 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 15:21:21 +0000 MsMary 1863678@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Scarlet, I'm glad you had a good day.</p> <p>I always keep notes, too. It really helps when I'm all higgledy-piggledy and behind in my preparations! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice/page/2#post-1863548 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 00:12:39 +0000 Anonymous 1863548@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I’m glad it went well for you. We had a good time, and the recipes we made turned out good—except the loaf. We will never make that one again. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice/page/2#post-1863337 Sun, 26 Nov 2017 20:21:03 +0000 JAileen 1863337@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've only hosted Thanksgiving dinner a few times, but my mother kept copious notes: number of people, weight of turkey, oven temperature, time, side dishes, etc., for each year, starting in 1958. When I did host, I kept notes, too. It's fun to look back. 1 and 2 are my notes from a few years ago. Please note that I *plan* for leftovers. I don't want to cook for a week! 3 and 4 are from last year. It was fun but also a ton of work. This year we drove 250 miles (each way) to join family, and I made a salad, and helped with cleanup. Despite the drive, it was much easier. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice/page/2#post-1863333 Sun, 26 Nov 2017 19:25:39 +0000 Scarlet 1863333@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Barbara</b> <b>Diane</b>, good for you! Congratulations on your first turkey. I have probably made ten by now, but sometimes it goes better than others. It seems like the biggest variable is the turkey itself. It's hard to know ahead of time what you are buying. I wish I had been keeping notes all these years about recipes and what worked and what didn't. I also enjoyed having the pressure off of cleaning the house and getting a big dinner ready at a certain time. I did feel quite sad in the middle of cooking, but by the time dinner was served I had recovered. After dinner I fell asleep on the sofa for an hour, and after that I felt A LOT better. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice/page/2#post-1863179 Sat, 25 Nov 2017 09:29:27 +0000 Barbara Diane 1863179@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm happy to report I worked my way through my sadness/hurt and enjoyed cooking my first Thanksgiving and first turkey. And the lack of timing pressure and not needing to clean the house helped for a first attempt. The meal was delicious and DH was impressed, which made me happy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice/page/2#post-1863126 Fri, 24 Nov 2017 23:25:40 +0000 Scarlet 1863126@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you<b> MsMary</b> Mr. 5 is clearly a little aesthete, so it will be interesting to see what he grows up into.</p> <p><b>BC</b>, I know what you mean. It is almost more important to observe the traditions when you are so far away from home. I hope you had a lovely dinner with your future family and a lovely vegan celebration at home too.</p> <p><b>Chiara</b>, I hope the move is going as well as possible. I know how it is moving with toddlers. It sounds like a tremendous amount going on, so you deserve a gold star for any home cooked meal!!</p> <p><b>Shiny</b>, oh, life is full and strange. I am sorry to hear your FIL has passed on and that your MIL is not well. Thank you for sharing your experiences. It goes to show how one must keep on adapting to life as it is. Like you, I grew up in a house without “relatives”, but then any reason was an excuse for a big get-together of family friends. Perhaps that is what has been going on with my brain about this holiday.</p> <p><b>Fashiontern</b>, I am sorry to hear that. Oh my gosh, really I can’t imagine making a little boy wait and wait and wait for people who already had their celebration at home Both of my grandmothers played major favoritism games, and I was always sad to see my mother hurt by it. I can’t help thinking that for you spending at least Christmas in Germany might be a lovely change of pace. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice/page/2#post-1863007 Fri, 24 Nov 2017 00:04:02 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 1863007@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Scarlet, how did it go?</p> <p>I’m kind of sad today myself. My sister (necklace sister) and her husband and their kids are at my parents’ house, just over two hours from here. Mom didn’t want to cook, didn’t want anyone else cooking, so they went to a buffet. We were not invited.</p> <p>I’m undecided what I wanted to do for Christmas. When my son was little, we lived places that had direct flights to my parents’ house in Ohio (they winter in Florida, but go north for Christmas, because dad finds the palm trees incongruous). So my son and I had Christmas morning at home, as did my sisters with their husbands and kids, and then we all went to my parents’—them in cars, us on a plane. Mom was always very nasty about that, couldn’t see why I thought Christmas morning at home was special. She made it very clear every year that it we were delayed, there would be absolutely no waiting for us. </p> <p>Now we have lived here for (ugh!) eight years. There is no direct flight, so we go up a couple of days ahead. Mom already has the table set and house decorated. Christmas Eve we eat cookies, recite The Night Before Christmas, and Dad reads from Matthew. Christmas morning my son opens his stocking and then we wait. </p> <p>My sisters arrive around 2. Neither of them has the slightest interest in getting there earlier because they want to be with their families. The year my son kept his pjs on, waiting to open the things under the tree, it got a very poor response. He’s in high school now, so it isn’t as bad as a little kid hanging out and being bored Christmas morning (I talked to my parents about it every year and every year they said the next would be different, then made no attempt) but I’d still like that to be a special time for the two of us, instead of being shown how much we are second fiddles in the family as we wait for the important players to arrive. </p> <p>The direct flight would get us there after presents, around dinner time. My sisters, especially the one who vacations in my parents’ Fla house for a couple weeks every summer (pj sister—one kid got married this summer and the other is splitting the pjs with me), will complain and give me so much flak. She claims to want to spend time with me, and wants me to purchase tix so we can do so before Christmas and she can go skiing the next day (also a sore spot) but can’t bring herself to even tell me when they are coming down, much less arrange their schedule around mine. </p> <p>There are many reasons I want to move back to Germany. This is definitely one of them. We have dear friends on that side of the ocean who I would love to be near. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice/page/2#post-1862829 Thu, 23 Nov 2017 02:25:30 +0000 shiny 1862829@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm way too late to this but the last 10 years we've had many years that seemed sad because our kids were at their dad's (share custody) and traveling home for T-day just seemed too much and local in-law's had health issues. Last 5 years we did a lot of restaurant T-day's bringing the ailing in-law's out for a few hours early in the day. Could've gone to relatives but the in-laws couldn't make the travel for it (even just an hour away) so we took it on ourselves to take them out, and skip the broader family celebration.&nbsp; Or were invited to other's T-day fests, but they got divorced, so that's not happening now...</p> <p>This year is our first year in a long time we are hosting, now that FIL is dead and MIL is in hospice and can't be taken out for even an hour... and now I have adult daughters!!! Who are bringing half the dishes, so I don't have to cook much, which is nice, but brings it's own weirdness. Like how did time pass that fast...&nbsp;</p> <p>I'm in my 50's but I still miss the childhood version of T-day. My mom would cook. Rarely any relatives because they lived way too far away. Instead, a set of "adopted" relatives-- family friends.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice/page/2#post-1862429 Tue, 21 Nov 2017 20:31:33 +0000 chirico (Chiara) 1862429@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@fashionterm: kid is ok now, but she was so confused when sick while we were packing the whole house. Unfortunately we don't have a holiday dedicated to giving thanks.<br /> What I loved about Thanksgiving is that I have always been invited by friends and always felt welcome and had a great time! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice/page/2#post-1862395 Tue, 21 Nov 2017 19:17:06 +0000 Anonymous 1862395@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I remember how I felt when we lived in Central America for 8 years. An American professor and his Brazilian wife always hosted Thanksgiving dinner and invited all the Americans that were there at the college he and my DH worked for. It was a big event, but each family brought something, so there was not too much work. It made me so happy that he did this.</p> <p>We've been invited to our DD's future in-laws' house for Thanksgiving, but I'm going to do our own scaled-down vegan dinner the day after. My DH and I don't care for turkey anyway, so I'm hoping it will go well.</p> <p>I'm sure whatever dinner you prepare will be great. Family togetherness and giving thanks for what we have are what truly matter. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice#post-1862376 Tue, 21 Nov 2017 18:27:25 +0000 MsMary 1862376@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The mental picture of Mr. 5 stroking the table runner makes me so happy! I am sure you and your little family will have a lovely holiday! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice#post-1862347 Tue, 21 Nov 2017 17:08:21 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 1862347@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Chirico, sick little ones who don't understand what's happening are so sad! Is there a traditional Thanksgiving day in Italy? I know that Switzerland and Germany have church-related designated days of giving thanks that are not holidays. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice#post-1862181 Mon, 20 Nov 2017 22:09:36 +0000 Scarlet 1862181@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rachy, that is possible. Kids can really hold it sometimes. My kid refused to toilet for 8 hours the first time we went to NYC. And he would probably love an art gallery too Going to the grocery tomorrow to see what's to be had. At least being in the U.S. I don't need to special order two weeks in advance. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice#post-1862157 Mon, 20 Nov 2017 19:56:56 +0000 rachylou 1862157@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can see your boy stroking the table runner in my minds eye, lol. Children love these things. It seems so grand.</p> <p>You can get a small whole turkey. A family of four will eat that up. This year I’m going to my uncle’s, but I still have a 14-lb thawing in the fridge. My peeps have gotten too skimpy in their old age. No leftovers!</p> <p>Also, I have to say something: I don’t remember taking my 4-yr-old godson for any bathroom trips on our day out. That can’t be right, right? Lol. What sort of godmother would I have been?! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice#post-1862101 Mon, 20 Nov 2017 17:07:33 +0000 Scarlet 1862101@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can’t emphasize enough how touching I find these thoughtful responses. You have collectively lifted me out of the malaise and helped me develop a plan. </p> <p>Following the many recommendations here, I am planning on cooking a scaled down Thanksgiving. Mr. 5 has been asking for turkey for weeks (months?), so I better do that, although I might do stuffed breasts and drumsticks instead of the whole thing, much as I love turkey soup. Also we are checking in on a colleague who recently moved to the area with a toddler. I plan on breaking out all the special tablewares to mark the occasion. Even though we are fortunate to spend a lot of time together as a family, there is not so much time where we are truly focusing on being/doing something special together, so this is something to look forward to.I think we will do a hike on Friday and then start getting the house decorated for Christmas.</p> <p>I really appreciated all the tips of fun things to do in New York, and I will be trying all of these things in the time to come.</p> <p>As an aside, we had guests last night, so I put a special fall table runner on the table, usually kept bare due to the inevitable children’s messes. Mr. 5, stroking the runner, was like ooh, I love this! So at least he will appreciate the set table.</p> <p><b>JAileen</b>, thanks for letting me know about your experience at the parade. I have never been there in person! I used to love it on TV as a kid. That is a great and inspiring story about your FIL. Funny the things that bring out our finest moments :)</p> <p><b>Rachylou</b>, interesting that you have a museum tradition. I was considering going back to the Natural History Museum this weekend, because my boys, especially the older one, are deep into the dinosaur phase. I read about your hat tragedy on another thread, and I extend my sympathies. I love your description of busting out the crystal and all just for your own family. I decided now to do the same. Iron that white table cloth for the kids to muss and everything It is the right message to them to do these things also just for ourselves.</p> <p><b>Annagybe</b>, I used to have a polaroid that made miniature sticky photos. It was the best thing ever. They shouldn’t have stopped selling polaroids. There is something about a physical photo. I am a happy that they are starting to come back. Such a great idea! I am going to check out those Fuji things.</p> <p><b>MsMaven</b>, I am so sorry that this is a sad topic for you. I hope you are enjoying your holiday this year.</p> <p><b>Echo</b>, I guess one thing that became apparent to me from this thread is that I should create other occasions to entertain more. The holidays force me to get out of the day-to-day hustle, but really that’s just a question of will. And you are so right with the reminder to be happy for who IS there.</p> <p><b>Fashiontern</b>, yes, at some level I am indeed overwhelmed by the freedom to choose this year. Also thank you for the reminder to think of other people who might be at loose ends for the holiday.</p> <p><b>Diana</b>, ha ha, anything but shopping on that Friday. I think we will also go on a hike too.</p> <p><b>Elpgal</b>, that sounds lovely!</p> <p><b>kkards</b>, thanks for your perspective. I share your concerns about a 2 year old. Also I am not that great with crowds myself I didn’t know about the balloon inflation thing. That sounds cool! I can certainly see the appeal of going out to dinner.</p> <p><b>Aquamarine</b>, yes I think we will kick off the Christmas season on the weekend too.</p> <p><b>Barbara Diane</b>, I am so sorry that you are also feeling this way. I am also trying to refocus myself on gratitude.</p> <p><b>Janet</b>, I am sorry this is a sad time of year for you. It’s nice to hear that your stepson’s family is taking over the hosting. </p> <p><b>delurked</b>, you and others are convincing me that a little family gathering will also be beautiful.</p> <p><b>danusia</b>, thank you for the recommendations. That sounds like a fantastic trip to make. We should definitely spend more time exploring our new state. Geez, I can’t believe someone suggested you to order catering. People are incredible sometimes. I hope you do visit Colonial Williamsburg.</p> <p><b>BrieN</b>, that is a great suggestion. We both work with students.</p> <p><b>Isabel</b>, interesting. I feel like my best cooking is when I can be bothered to add that final touch of, e.g. a fresh sprinkling of herbs to provide the bright freshness as a counterpoint to the cooked flavors. My five year old loves to help in the kitchen, and actually loved it even as a two year old. My current two year old is more like a master of disaster, if I am honest. And yes, exactly, I need to be captain of my own ship here. That is the underlying dynamic of most of my frustrations these days, if I am honest.</p> <p><b>Joy</b>, you know I am almost embarrassed to say you reminded me that I do know a family who moved here recently with a toddler. I am checking with my husband about reaching out to them. </p> <p><b>Chiara</b>, I love your story of falling in love with Thanksgiving! I like your suggestions.</p> <p><b>Angie</b>, big hearted Angie, it sounds like you have a very lovely holiday tradition. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice#post-1862009 Mon, 20 Nov 2017 12:13:39 +0000 Angie 1862009@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Scarlet,</b> you've received great ideas, and I'm sure you'll have a fun, special and memorable TG weekend after all. Good luck and safe travels.&nbsp;</p> <p>FWIW, Greg and I are very happy to spend holidays at home alone with the doggies. No family and no friends. I cook up a storm, we take the dog(s) for a walk, and have a lovely time. Maybe that's because we don't have kids, and kids expect more "action" so to speak. Much love to you, sweet lady. xo </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice#post-1861965 Mon, 20 Nov 2017 05:20:37 +0000 chirico (Chiara) 1861965@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My story is the other way around: came to the States, loved Thanksgiving, decided to repeat the tradition here in Italy too once I got back. With some interesting adaptations to the local tastes. Thankfully my sister in law is half American and I get help from her too.<br /> This year, however, we just moved to a new place and have boxes still around (I had an interesting week-end with my boxes and a half-sick toddler...), and we can't have people over. So, on Thu, I'll be cooking something simple yet traditional - turkey for sure, then I'll decide in the moment. Nothing I have to take the day off for. What I want the most is to create a small unique tradition for my little girl. I think that could be your goal too: I'd go to the parade (how I whish I could go!), get home to a simple, delicious meal, and spend Friday outdoors with the kids if weather allows. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice#post-1861961 Mon, 20 Nov 2017 04:36:54 +0000 Anonymous 1861961@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A friend's family always goes for a hike near a lake after Thanksgiving dinner. Is there a local college that may have some students not able to go home that you could invite? My saddest Thanksgivings were at a small empty college town when even the college cafeteria was closed. I was, and still am, grateful to college friends who invited me to join their families.<br /> Maybe you know someone with toddlers or a new baby that would be grateful for someone else to invite then for dinner? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice#post-1861936 Mon, 20 Nov 2017 01:49:40 +0000 Anonymous 1861936@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Today on a radio cooking show I heard, and this is not verbatim, that it wasn't the amount of effort that made the food good, but the intensity of flavor, and that often the relationship is inverse, the more elaborate the preparation, the less flavorful the results.</p> <p>Maybe you could plan a meal that's not all about you getting up at 5am to lock yourself in the kitchen all day? A two and five year old can definitely help prepare delicious food and they might even have some really brilliant ideas about what to make, how to serve it, decorations, etc. There aren't always that many adult things that young children can do just as well as grown ups and it's really great for confidence building. </p> <p>I think you feel like the "different" part of this holiday is being forced on you rather than you controlling it. You can react to that, or you can just start over again with your own new plan. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice#post-1861881 Sun, 19 Nov 2017 21:03:01 +0000 JAileen 1861881@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Danusia, years ago, unbeknownst to me, the oven in our rental was broken. I didn't know until I opened the oven door to put the turkey in. My FIL, in one of his finest moments, said I know just what we'll do - we'll barbeque the turkey. He proceeded to carve up the bird and we barbequed it. And it was the best turkey we'd ever had. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice#post-1861878 Sun, 19 Nov 2017 20:52:56 +0000 BrieN 1861878@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If you live by a university and are comfortable opening up your home, there are often students who can't get home for the holidays/who don't have homes to go to that would welcome the chance to be included in your family's celebration. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice#post-1861850 Sun, 19 Nov 2017 19:07:48 +0000 Anonymous 1861850@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>How far are you from the Fingerlakes region in NY&nbsp; (Keuka Lake has beautiful views and Seneca Lake as well) ? Some wine tasting and perhaps a visit to the Corning Museum of Glass. Not far from Watkins Glen and you could even take a peak at the Seneca White Deer (not albino deer, actual white deer). Curtis Museum in Hammondsport and a glider museum nearby as well as watching the gliders in the air. </p> <p>My oven died this past Friday and not sure when the new element will arrive to fix it, so i put a hold on Thanksgiving. When I contacted everyone to let them know,&nbsp; they all&nbsp; said "maybe next year" and no one offered to do it in place of me. One did offer the suggestion that perhaps I could have it catered instead. I am now rethinking ever doing Thanksgiving again and just keeping it to the immediate family or&nbsp; just go away. I always wanted to visit Colonial Williamsburg at Thanksgiving.</p> <p></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice#post-1861844 Sun, 19 Nov 2017 18:51:18 +0000 rachylou 1861844@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good point delurked. My Thanksgivings have always been sizeable, taking more than the full 12-place china settings, but I remember the run up more than anything. Starting days ahead. The market trip. Cleaning. Ironing the table cloth. Folding the napkins. Getting out the crystal from the China cabinet. Wine, water, whiskey. Dad making vichyssoise. Mum basting the turkey. All that was without anyone but us and what made it exciting. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice#post-1861835 Sun, 19 Nov 2017 18:25:47 +0000 delurked 1861835@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Although my Thanksgivings have varied widely as an adult, when I was a child it was always just my immediate family. How I miss the feeling of that day when it was just us. I recommend you consider an at home tradition for your own children, even if it just feels like a too small gathering to you. It won’t feel that way to your kids, as what you do in the next few years will really cement how they remember the holiday. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice#post-1861823 Sun, 19 Nov 2017 17:34:54 +0000 Janet 1861823@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like the advice others have given. Thanksgiving is still a bit sad for me, even nine years after losing my mom in November. We have not adopted any one prevailing tradition since then -- we've gone out for dinner a couple of times, hosted a big meal for friends at our house a couple of times, hosted at the ranch in Texas for our family there a few years, and most recently had dinner with my stepson and his wife (a new tradition as of last year that is being repeated this year). I have to say I do like not having to cook and clean for two full days -- it's a nice change of pace to show up at my stepson's with a pie or a bottle of wine and enjoy the fruits of someone else's labors!&nbsp;</p> <p>I also really treasure the memory of years when we served dinner at a local homeless shelter. It was an experience that truly reminded me of how much we have to be thankful for.&nbsp;</p> <p>I hope that whatever you do, you have a happy Thanksgiving! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice#post-1861820 Sun, 19 Nov 2017 17:29:35 +0000 Barbara Diane 1861820@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It's okay to be sad. I'm sad because my husband and I are alone for the first time this year. I've always been around multiple families. If I had know earlier we would have made other plans. Great suggestions here, and I'd suggest also thinking about what you want for next year and years after that. Because of the sadness and the meaning of the day I want to concentrate on gratitude this year. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice#post-1861777 Sun, 19 Nov 2017 14:23:34 +0000 Aquamarine 1861777@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I’d cook the usual for your family, and then do something the rest of the weekend that welcomes in the holiday season (there’s no escaping it either way). In our town, the tree-lighting takes place the Sunday after Thanksgiving, as well as a Santa parade for the little kids. In other words, start a new tradition and make the weekend fun for all of you. Whatever you do, keep cheerful for your little ones. Children pick up on parents’ sadness (for whatever reason) around the holidays. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice#post-1861768 Sun, 19 Nov 2017 13:49:13 +0000 kkards 1861768@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>scarlett....my thanksgivings have narrowed to a smaller and smaller &nbsp;event every year as older family members have past, and younger have married now celebrate with their new families...so i understand exactly what you are going thru....<br />i have done the NYC thanksgiving 3 or 4 times....and while i love it, i don't recommend the parade for children as young as yours unless you have a hotel room or office to watch it from...the throngs of people and the long wait are IMO to much for a 2 year old. my sisters have gone to the balloon blow up&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tripsavvy.com/macys-thanksgiving-parade-balloon-inflation-1613647">https://www.tripsavvy.com/macy.....on-1613647</a>&nbsp;the night before, and this might be a good alternative and become a new family thanksgiving tradition.<br />i'd ask around, i bet that there are others in you community who are having a small queit thanksgiving and would welcome dining with you and your family<br />BTW-for the past decade or so, we've mostly gone out to eat...it gives you a sense of a larger community---and no cleaning up. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kind-of-sad-about-thanksgivingseeking-advice#post-1861705 Sun, 19 Nov 2017 02:47:28 +0000 elpgal 1861705@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If you decide to host last minute, you may be surprised to know how many people would come over! This year we are celebrating potluck-style with some of my son's preschool crowd. We plan to start our day with a kid-friendly hike led by some of the parents and then meet at our house for lunch. </p>