Who's stressed about Thanksgiving??

[MakinIT]

OH my goodness...

I used to be such a good hostesss.. (and I seriously try not to live in the world of used to be anymores) But Thanksgivings I had three pies and great dishes, decorated and cleaned house (while working fulltime), Christmas I made dozens of different kinds of cookies...The last 4 years we've had Thanksgiving at my mom's. This year, she is going to my aunt's because we were going to do something else. Our plans fell through so we are doing 7 people at my house. So, I'm buying a pre made meal at QFC (Turkey, potatoes, stuffing, gravy, rolls) and am making some side dishes. My eldest is telling us how horrible this thanksgiving is because of the fact I'm not getting my butt out of bed at 6 am and making this meal. I don't need this. Grr. How are those of you with big families and total exhaustion (chronic fatique syndrome).?

Tracey:help:

[Sunflower2]

Tracey, you don't have to feel bad about it. Not everybody has to make a huge meal for Thanksgiving. I think people tend to forget the real meaning of Thanksgiving nowdays. It's about how we give our thanks to the people we love. It's not all about eating big meal on Thanksgiving. I think it's ok to have relaxing holiday instead of having more stress. Don't you agree???

[petrie86]

I agree... thanksgiving is about spending time with the people you love... and relaxing and having a good time. The food is a plus lol but remind your kids about what the holiday is about.
I feel ya I've been helping my boyfriends mother clean the house all week, and now were cooking at nights to try to prepare for the 19 guests!!! It's stressfull but well worth it to have fun with family and friends.
Dont get discouraged about not cooking a big meal. I hope everyone has a great Holiday!!!!

[Claredale]

I am not letting myself get stressed. I went by the grocery store to pick up a few things on Monday night and last night and it was packed, so I woke up early this morning and got the rest of the things I needed before I came into work, which wasn't much, so I was in and out in 15 minutes. I am fixing a fairly simple Thanksgiving dinner. I used to roast a turkey breast at least once a month when my kids where growing up since it was easy to put in the oven before church and I would just finish up the potatoes and other side dishes while waiting for the turkey to finish. My sons just loved turkey sandwiches and cold turkey, so I would buy the breasts when they were on sale. Since we aren't going to my family or my husband's family this year (It will just be my husband, younger son who is on his way home from college and myself), I am just going to fix my ordinary simple meal. After we eat and get the kitchen cleaned up, my husband and I are going to Starkville, MS to see my older son and his new wife with her family (I am so glad that they don't have to decide who they are spending their first Thanksgiving with!) and then go to the Egg Bowl on Friday. My younger son is going to spend time with his friends that are home from school as well. So I won't even deal with any Christmas shopping on Friday like usual. This is going to be the easiest Thanksgiving in a long time. It will be different not being with our large extended family, but it will be nice to do something different as well. My MIL normally cooks the entire meal with all the usually trimmings and way too many desserts, so my SIL is so glad that our MIL is coming to her house and my SIL finally gets to cook the dinner. She loves to be the hostess and is a fabulous cook, but we (the DILS) have never been "priviledged" to have that tradition.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Tracey

[Berkshire Road]

Oh, for Heaven's sakes! Thanksgiving is about being with our loved ones and reflecting on all of the blessings in our lives. Most of us don't do nearly enough of that.

If your daughter feels she needs a home-cooked meal in order to do so, invite her to go ahead and prepare one for the family!

[MakinIT]

yeah...I told her that...and considering she gags when she has to touch raw hamburger (uh, so do I when touch it...I'm such a baby) she would vomit upon pulling out the guts. (isn't that weird...I dissected a human body but I can't stand touching raw meat) Anyway, I figure I'm making pumpkin cheesecake, a family recipe of green beans (not the typical casserole), a fruit salad and pumpkin squares. My husband and I realized we forgot Yams/sweet potatoes and he said he would take care of it..calling it "papa's yams". I'm scared. But hey...like he said, what's so hard about brown sugar and minimallows, except that I know a better recipe? anyway..We are staying home so his Dad and brother have an actual Thanksgiving, instead of leftovers.

HEY..you guys..most of you know who know my story know how awful things have been between my husband and I...? I'm writing a strand in romance....:smile tee

[Sally939]

How old is your daughter? If over 13 I would tell her to get her butt out of bed and fix the meal. Flat out no taking it back! Give her the recipes and let her ruin the holiday. I would then leave the house and go to a hotel and rest, returning when the rest of the family comes over. I would take your husband with you. I have read a few times where she is having a problem. She needs some tough love. I am sorry I am coming off so hard. I must be in a mood. (my new houses basment is leaking water for the third time and I can not get the workmen to fix it) But from what I have read you are really sick and in pain.

Now, in her defense. When I was about 16 my parents got divorced. For some reason the way I responded to my mother’s emotional pain at that age was to get an attitude. It just hurt me to see her hurt so by being rude I would close myself off to it. So maybe her attitude is in response to your pain. Regardless, she needs to learn she is not royalty!

[MakinIT]

Well, this is actually my older daughter and she is a sweetheart. She was just being *****y and a drama queen...she is a Type A person who gets a picture in her head of exactly how things are supposed to be and she doesn't want them to be different. (she remembers holiday traditions our family has had better than I) She is almost 18 and this is the first time we havent had a HUGE meal either here or at someone else's home. My younger daughter is the one that has been getting tough love lately. My husband and I have been a united front in the past two months and the child has discovered that she can't run to dad to get a yes when she has gotten a no from me. (the current dispute is she wants to dye her hair black with pink tips...my eldest would never even have thought of that...It's my youngest's birthday and I told her I'd get her hair colored and she already asked her dad about it and he not only said no, but said no on the black hair...she's blond) So until the three of us come to a decision that doesn't involve her saying "it's your problem if you don't like that color" it's going to be her problem because I'm not paying for the color. Her nasty and rude tone toward me and her grandfather has gotten her into some serious problems. Her dad has walked in, or overheard, or lately been the actual recipient so she's lost a Halloween party, some weekend activities, and had to deal with detention because she was so rude with both of trying to help her with homework (we are both teachers) that we wouldn't help her and she was sent to bed...so the work didn't get done, and she's gotten detention. Twice. (She's in sixth grade) Part of her problem is that she has a visual problem that makes her eyes very tired when she reads and she can't transfer writing from an overhead to a paper because her eyes won't track, but her teachers have agreed to make photo copies of anything on the overhead, she just has to collect it. She is too busy gossiping (what 12 year old girl doesn't but she has to learn to walk up to the teacher at the end of class). I'm just relieved my husband has finally started seeing what I deal with and is helping. Kelsey was to the point she was hitting me, in the belly by my bladder...and, after I partially tore my rotator cuff, hitting that shoulder. I was ready to put her in an emotionally disturbed program but she has calmed down. I do need to figure out why she is so angry and the only thing I can figure now is that I got sick when she was in second grade and I sorta checked out of her life for two years due to depression and meds. I was around physically but mentally.....I was gone.

Anyway...my eldest will just have to deal. I'm giving her the pile of Thanksgiving linens to iron today. That ougtta put her in the spirit!!!

Tracey

[traceann]

I know the joys and heartbreak of cooking the big Holiday meal, lol. Like the cracked pumpkin pie I accidentally left in the oven too long, lmao!

We always have Christmas dinner at the inlaws (we spend Christmas Eve with my mom, then on Christmas Day head to the inlaws for overnight)and I request the same meal that my MIL makes - she places an order to HoneyBaked Hams, lol!! She gets all the fixings, brings them home then pops them into the oven!! I love it and talk about no stress, ha ha ha!!! I love teasing her about "cooking" Christmas dinner - first we turn on the oven, then we vent the plastic film covering the sweet potatoes, ha ha ha!!!!!

She just hates to cook, plain and simple - so this method is perfect for her and I love it too!!!! ;)

So gang I declare stress-free Thanksgivings for all - be you the cook or the guest!!!! :)

[MakinIT]

We just picked up our Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, pie, rolls...We made side dishes...I set up a very nice table, with my silver from my grandparents, and Mikasa china I never get to use. My husband doesn't want to climb into the attic to get the nice crystal glasses that match, both drinking and champagne...so my nice table will be beautified by our mismatched collection of mickey mouse cups (glass, McDonalds...circa 1999) some cheap target drinking glasses comprised of 2 separate sets and non matching wine glasses. Irritates me. My wedding crystal hasn't been out of the attic in 4 years.

It has been a day thus far. Am not happy with my youngest..she and I had a deal to clean her room today (I'm not anal about it...I just want her to clean her guniea pig's cage, put away her clothing, and vacuum her floor...that's it) she has been a butt about it all day. So she broke a promise to me (usually, with her...she has to complete chores before she gets money...I hate that but she is very extrinsically motivated)..she begged me for money last night to do something with her friends and I said no and she said she swore she would take care of above mentioned things this morning. I gave her some money but said I would never give her money again prior to chores if she backed out of her promise. This morning came around and it was a different story. She was completely a pill. Her dad kinda backed me up but asked me later if it was really worth it to cause such a fuss. I said she was basically asked to do three things in her room and she wasn't willing to do them because she was too damn stubborn.

Oh well..the joy...Happy Turkey day...I have to get up.....