How To Avoid Thanksgiving Day Disasters

The Foreseeable versus the Unforeseeable
Although accidents such as burned turkeys may be unforeseeable, your relatives' antics are sometimes routine. Thanksgiving Day dinner may not be the best time to address such issues if they can be avoided. However, avoiding controversy at all costs will simply result in a repeat on Thanksgiving Day next year. To avoid similar future incidents, you need to find a calm time after Thanksgiving Day to address the offending person.

Handling Ultra Right Wing Religious Aunt Mary
The next time you are having a low-key, calm moment with your relative whose holiday antics annoy you, clearly explain your position on the issue. For example, perhaps your Aunt Mary relentlessly tries to make sure everyone at Thanksgiving dinner is "saved" and has "accepted Jesus into their lives." When you are having lunch alone with Aunt Mary, let your Aunt Mary know that you are not Christian and, although you respect her beliefs, you would appreciate her respect for your beliefs, too.

Perhaps telling your Aunt Mary directly that you are not Christian still does not deter her. For the adventurous or those with an ironic sense of humor, consider telling her you are half druid and half wiccan, and then proceed to try to convert her. That should end the discussion. Or, Aunt Mary will be afraid of you and avoid you at all costs. Either way, you will no longer be subject to her evangelical tirades.

Preventing the Inebriated Holiday Appearance of Uncle Bob
Does Uncle Bob routinely arrive late to family gatherings, obviously having already had more than a few drinks? If the situation does not merit addressing the situation immediately due to anyone's safety, you will certainly want to address the situation at a later date to avoid a repeat occurrence.

Invite Uncle Bob to breakfast, and let him know that his drinking makes you and other family members feel uncomfortable. Tell him you love having him at family gatherings, and that they will not be the same without him, but that unfortunately, he will no longer be welcome if he has been drinking.

The Bottom Line
The key is to try to keep things festive and pleasant to the extent you are able on Thanksgiving Day. Although it will likely be a difficult conversation, it will be well worth it when next year's Thanksgiving goes off without a hitch - er, well, except for the burned pumpkin pie.