Thanksgiving 2025

There are so many topics I could touch on this week. I could tell you about the personal increase of chaos in our lives over the last week. I could talk about what I am thankful for. I could tell you what my therapist said my homework is this week. I could talk about what Thanksgiving looks like for my family. I could keep it completely light and tell you our menu and how to cook each dish. 

I think I am going to briefly touch on several of these things, but in the context of being supportive. The holidays are hard. There is a lot going on, too much to get done on a tight schedule. Maybe you have kids to dress and load up to haul to relatives’ houses that aren’t even kid-friendly, maybe you feel obligated to spend time with triggering family, maybe you feel alone, everyone has a unique holiday experience each year.

Last year, our usual tradition wasn’t possible due to illness and some family things. Instead, we decided we were not going to pick a family to go spend Thanksgiving day with, and we were just going to cook our own big meal with the kids at home. It was such a calm, peaceful, great day. Naps were had by all who needed them, dinner was at normal dinner time with no stress on when it was ready, and the kids learned how to do some new things in the kitchen because we included them in the whole process.

This year is a family affair again. Then we also have Friendsgiving on Saturday. We also have a birthday party this week and several appointments sprinkled in. We stay busy, but that’s nothing new. My therapist, though, keeps telling me that this lifestyle of being busy and overloading our calendars is just not sustainable. She asked me what a perfect day looks like to me, then asked why I can’t have it. My homework is to practice saying no. That is not an easy thing for me. I pride myself on dependability. She says I need to prioritize who I am most dependable to. 

I am going to be chasing littles, declining distant relatives holding my infant, handling a toddler without a nap, and trying to rein in the teens that use more slang than even I can follow. Do I wish I could just stay home and order Chinese for everyone in my own home all the time? Probably, but that’s just not how it works.

Sooooo, to my fellow parents about to navigate their own family needs, traditions, and/or obligations, all I can offer as “advice” is breathe. Find the room to take a breath. I find myself holding my breath when I am stressing, and it really does help to just walk outside and take some calming breaths before going back in. Take a couple breaths before responding to that condescending advice thrown your way by people who don’t live your day to day. Even better yet, enhance your self respect and leave if your boundaries are being violated. Something I was asked in my appointment today was, “Does this person have the authority to tell you what to do?” Sometimes it is a hard thing to remember that I am an adult and my kids are learning how to stand up for themselves from me. Just because a person is older than you does not give them the right to disrespect you. Some of these things I logically know but struggle with myself. 

I am going to end on a light and unrelated note here. Some people say that turkey is overrated as a holiday staple and I do not agree. If your bird is dry, you need a new recipe or chef! My Thanksgiving table will always have the following: Turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, green bean casserole, rolls, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce (yeah, the canned kind). I know many have to have sweet potato casserole, but I don’t, and my husband insists on mac and cheese as a staple. I hope that everyone gets the meal that brings them joy after a day started with the Macy’s parade. I would love to know your Thanksgiving Day traditions and menus.