Thanksgiving Family Survival Guide

There are many tips out there offering techniques on dealing with stress during the Holiday season. I am going to give you first hand survival techniques that I have had to learn from personal experience, and what I have done to make them better as the years have gone by.

Plan Well in advance- My biggest tip and by far the most important is to start preparing way ahead of time for everyone to come. Don't wait until the Wednesday before to go Turkey shopping or out looking for fancy china plate settings for tomorrow. If you have to buy Tom a month ahead of time and freeze him that's ok, just make sure he has at least 48 hours to thaw all the way through. If the beds that your guests will be staying in need to be made this can be done up to a week in advance. Any major house cleaning can also be done a week in advance. Save the light housekeeping for the day before guests and family arrive.

Make a List- Making a list of all you have to buy ahead of time and what you need to do, helps prioritize your schedule and will keep you on track. Write down what the meal will be for the day and make your list and stick to it. If the trim needs to be painted on the back door, make a list that you need to get it done within a certain period of time.

Plan the Seating Arrangements- This is so important. As you are doing this make sure to take into consideration that Ashley is left handed and so is Trevor, so don't sit them next to right handed people, or they will be elbowing each other all night. Little Tommy gets restless after 3 minutes of eating so don't sit him by Aunt Mertle who has no patience. Grandpa likes to belch and tell war stories and your husband's nerves get frayed when he starts rambling on, be sure to sit those two very far apart. Make sure though that you don't sit your husband next to your sister Lisa, when she's on her second glass of wine she is all over him. With a little careful planning the Turkey Dinner can go off without a hitch. And everyone will have smiles on their faces and will be enjoying each others company.

Keep unwanted People out of the Kitchen- Remember the old saying if you cant stand the heat then get out of the kitchen, well this saying rings especially true on Thanksgiving day. There is always the same people working in the kitchen every year and chances are it's you and a couple of other people who pop in every 30 minutes asking if you need help when its better if they just get out and stay away. Sometimes more can be accomplished when others are just out of sight. Gently remind those who are not helping to wait somewhere else. It would be a wise idea to have a snack table set up in the Living Room so guests can stay entertained and occupied out there and not in the kitchen.

Have activities and games set up for the kids- This really helps in Thanksgiving day survival. If the kids are being occupied by something they love to do than they are less likely to be underfoot.

Send the guys outdoors for a Football game- This is a great stress reliever for you and everyone else. The guys who typically love to get rowdy while watching the Lions game indoors will need to blow off steam after watching the game. What better way to do it than by playing a game of ball themselves.

Keep candles and subtle air fresheners handy- Uncle Lou will surely walk in with a cigar hanging out of his mouth. Now how can you tell an 90 year man with Alzheimer's to put it out, this may be his last Thanksgiving. Grin and bear it and crank out the fabreeze air freshener, follow him inconspicuously with the nozzle pointed in his direction. Uncle Teddy of course will roll in bright and early before you are hardly out of bed and be ready for the party, what you didn't ask him to being was his BO. The bad part is he ripens at noon, and the smell will be atrocious. Make sure you have that glade plug in set on high near his chair and that you have several candles lit to mask the odor. Try to keep it away from the kitchen and dining room, as you want your guests to only smell one thing- the Turkey.

Take negative comments in stride- Aunt Marcy will always want to put her two cents in and typically she loves to do this about 15 minutes before dinner is being served, right at prime stress time! She may say,"Oh you make your gravy from a can? Oh I don't know about that, I always make mine from scratch, and it always turns out so good that way!" As much as you would love to reach over and strangle her, hold back. Take a breath and give her a big smile, better yet give her something to do, like set the table or take out some garbage. Keeping pesky guests busy and out of your hair is the best way to keep stress astray.

Don't go overboard- Now is not the time to become Martha Stewart. Do not decide a few days before company arrives to repaint your Living Room or tear out your bathroom sink. Definitely do not try that brand new Turducken recipe that you have never baked before. Clean and tidy up the best you can and that is all you really can do.

Have a drink- A tall glass of Red Wine, will mellow you out and make the day run smoother. Offer some to the guests also so everyone can enjoy themselves.

My last but not least tip for surviving Thanksgiving dinner with relatives is to just breathe. Relax and know that they will all be going home soon. Think of it this way you have a whole 365 days to get ready for the next one.