Do Tell: What Makes Thanksgiving Stressful For Your Family?

November 12, 2008

Most of you are excited for Thanksgiving, but 29 percent of you admitted to already feeling anxious about it. Getting family together can no doubt be stressful, especially when factoring in those sweet spots of contention that can easily become exacerbated during overwhelming times. In an effort to help you get through this holiday, do tell, what exactly is it that makes things so trying for your family?

27 Comments

ilanac13 4 years

well for me - it's the food thing. i've had issues with food in the past and i can't bring myself to be ok with all the food that i'm being expected to eat so that's what makes things hardest for me.this year is the first year that we're going to my mam's family's house for the holiday - and it's going to be more stressful than ever since they come from a completely different background so there's going to be even more food that i'm uncertain about.

ilanac13 4 years

well for me - it's the food thing. i've had issues with food in the past and i can't bring myself to be ok with all the food that i'm being expected to eat so that's what makes things hardest for me. this year is the first year that we're going to my mam's family's house for the holiday - and it's going to be more stressful than ever since they come from a completely different background so there's going to be even more food that i'm uncertain about.

socktree 4 years

Well, last year, it was mom bringing up grandma's "induced miscarriages". Not in front of family - oh no, more like in front of my friends and their families. No eggnog for her this year.

bluepuppybites 4 years

It used to be our dad coming home from a football game he was watching at the bar. He would be all drunk. Now it's just family tension. My husband and sister do not like each other at all. My husband also lost his father and grandmother during the holidays before he was ten. So he gets very umm...blue.

Jude C 4 years

"its usually when she isnt getting enough attention." :ROTFL:

CaterpillarGirl 4 years

1) my grandmother will start crying at some point, over her getting old, or her husband dying two years ago, or because a draft is in the room, its usually when she isnt getting enough attention. 2) my vegetarian stepsister will try to make us all feel guilty for eating meat, and then i will contemplate accidently spilling the turkey carcass in her pristine hemp skirted lap. 3) the talk of babies and my lack of will come up, especially because my birthday is the day after thanksgiving and i will be the ancient 35 AKA your uterus is almost dried up.

brown_eyed_grrl 4 years

My family goes camping outside of Big Bend National Park. I LOVE getting away from everything and spending time in the desert. It clears my mind.

lexichloe 4 years

Dividing the time as equally as possible among all the families. We're almost at the stage in our lives when we do our own thing at our home. If they want to see us, they know where to find us. Next year we'll be on a cruise...:)

lizzie_ttu 4 years

My parents got divorced my freshman year in college (9 yrs ago). I hate having to divide my time and deciding for myself. I wish I was trained as a young child on who/what/when/where/why/how! I also don't get along with my dad's wife new family and hate going over there feeling like an outsider. I'm better off spending Thanksgiving with my boyfriend's family, then spending quality time with my family on my own terms the day (or a few days) after.

pink-elephant 4 years

Several things: 1. All my aunts/uncles/cousins/grandparents bring their DOGS!! We're actually the only ones who don't bring ours, thankfully! so when we're trying to eat there's always eight or ten dogs jumping on our laps!! grr.. 2. After dinner my aunt and my cousin both hog the couches and sleep the WHOLE TIME!! so there's nowhere for anybody to sit except in the three tiny chairs set out, or on the floor, with said dogs. 3. The food itself. My family is the only one who cooks since my grandmother cannot cook and everyone else refuses...then they yell at us if we're late-excuse us, but we're the ones having to do all the work! 4.My aunt, the main one who yells at us if we're late, also picks fight with my father over how he cooked the food! Unbelievable! Sorry for taking up soo much space-but it's such a stressful holiday!

356UIK 4 years

We are dealing with two separated families; my parents' and my aunt and uncle's. So its difficult to please anyone let alone everyone. Every year its the same thing; the kids have to 'pick' who we want to spend the holidays with, and I end up having to shut out at least two people. Usually my dad and my uncle. Sucks major. Sometimes I just wanna say I pick no one, so that everyone can be equally sad and I'll just stay by myself alone without any family! Also, this will be the first THGVG & Xmas without my Gramma. Major bummer :(

amloveaffair 4 years

Too much to do and figure out. I still feel really awkward around my hubby's family. Not because I don't like them but because I'm really shy and I lack people skills. So the entire time I'm with his family I am really really uncomfortable. I'd rather stay home and cook a few things and do nothing. All the traveling and stuff makes me exhausted.

TidalWave23 4 years

Nothing really... I think getting everyone together is somewhat of an issue. We're all pretty spread out and have our own individual families so we tend to just eat Thanksgiving dinner in smaller groups rather than doing the entire get together. Last year it was just my boyfriend and I since we didn't have the time to travel back east to be with our families.

Renee3327 4 years

Things usually go pretty smoothly. I sometimes get my grandmother asking me why I don't have a serious bf and reminding me that my mother was married with a kid at my age. I want to say "Well my mother didn't have a successful career in advertising at my age" but it's Thanksgiving so I just smile and ignore.

stargazer25 4 years

Pretty much politics. But the food helps off set it.

psterling 4 years

My mom! I love her but the woman REVELS in driving my sister and I crazy.

bbkf 4 years

My family is very low-key and not stress-inducing. My husbands family is extremely stress-inducing. His dad's side of the family loves drama and there is always at least one big fight every time they get together and weeks of he said/she said in the aftermath. His mom's side of the family is extremely religious and conservative and it makes me very angry to have to sit and listen to their rants.

Jude C 4 years

Nothing. It's always great! Cooking, feasting, napping, waking up and feasting some more--what's not to love?

lauraxtc 4 years

I love Thanksgiving Because at the end of the day we get to feast like kings. lol. But during the day it is stressful because I have to cook, clean and make sure my family shows up. Then when they do show, you have to make sure not to mention certain things cause it may light up a wrong conversation. Then there's the guilt trip of eating way too much. lol. but ever since I was a little girl, I loved Turkey day. Maybe because when I was small, all my family would gather together and enjoy. I have learned the family's recipe. so Now I am the one who has kept the tradition alive.

northofhere 4 years

My parents are divorced, my mother's family is Catholic and huge, and my mother's crazy. I think that pretty much sums it up.

lickety split 4 years

we go to san diego for thanksgiving now and i do thanksgiving dinner at my dad's. there are no stressful people there so there is no stress! we use to get roped into doing it at our house and the in-laws all drove here (we're half way in between everyone). what a nightmare! complaints about the drive, the way food was prepared, requests for special dishes. hello; my house, my thanksgiving recipes! you weren't invited you just declared you were coming. the last couple of years we have told everyone WAY ahead of time that we were going to san diego, and they don't even get together to celebrate it now, just do it on their own. probably less stress for them too.

fleurfairy 4 years

The "are you dating anyone??" questions. God, make it stop! Also the cooking and cleaning. It's exhausting. Men have it so easy on Thanksgiving. All they have to do is eat and disappear into the TV room to watch football and fall asleep.

Mesayme 4 years

Nothing... we have a blast! Best time of year!

brandi07 4 years

Thanksgiving is very stressful for me. I have to drive about 4 hours to see my family on Thanksgiving and endure embarassing questions from my family. Then I have to travel all the way back home pretty much as soon as I get done eating with my family to see my fiance's family and endure questions from them. Thanksgiving is all about rush, rush, rush for me and leaves me exhausted by the time the weekend is over!

valancyjane 4 years

Thanksgiving's not stressful for me at all because my parents stay home, halfway across the country! Yippee, I don't have to worry about blending my family with my husband's! But on my husband's side, I think passing holiday responsibility to the next generation is a tough one. His cousin has a new house that's great for entertaining, but his aunt sort of likes to be the queen bee. We're not sure who's going to host this year. I don't think there are any hard feelings (and there might be other stuff going on that affects this too), but I imagine it would be tough to let your child step up and be in charge, when it means he/she might change the menu, forget a tradition, etc.

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