What to Do When Thanksgiving Dinner Plans Collide

Do you come from a large family or even a small family that has been impacted by divorces and new relationships? If you do, the holiday season may be one that you dread. Unfortunately, many individuals have a difficult time dealing with dinner plans, including Thanksgiving dinner plans. This is most often the case when dinner plans collide.

Although you may have married, moved in with your romantic partner, or are currently in a close relationship, there are still many individuals who feel close ties to their parents, grandparents, or siblings. This is often what leads to conflict. What would you do if your mother, brother or sister, and mother in-law all decided to host their Thanksgiving dinners at or around the same time? If you are unsure as to what you should do, you will want to continue reading on.

One of the first questions that you will want to ask yourself is where you want to be. This question will likely give you the best answer for making your Thanksgiving plans. Of course, it is normal to worry about what your close friends or relatives would think, but it is also important that you think of yourself. For instance, if you were to choose Thanksgiving dinner with one or both of your parents, there is likely a good reason for your choice. Whether you have a close relationship with them or if they are a good cook, you are more likely to enjoy yourself if you want to be there in the first place.

It is also important that you examine who will be attending each dinner party. This isn't done so that you can avoid those who you don't like to be around, but it is done to get an idea of the guest list and its size. Personally speaking, my mother's family consists of her, her husband, my brother, and grandmother. Due to being small in size, they are more willing to rearrange times, making Thanksgiving convenient for all. Technically, we have a Thanksgiving lunch, which allows us all to visit other family members throughout the day as well.

After a close examination, you may find that you don't not necessarily have to make a Thanksgiving dinner choice. Although Thanksgiving is often associated with dinner, a simple appearance may do the trick for many family members. Yes, you may not be able to make the Thanksgiving dinner itself, due to another commitment, but you may be able to make dessert or even stop by to say hello and possibly enjoy a few leftovers later on. There is a good chance that your immediate family would more than understand the inability to attend dinner, as long as you stop by later or at least place a phone call to them.

You will also want to keep in mind that Thanksgiving isn't the only holiday of the year. If you are unable to visit one of your family members for the holiday, consider going out of your way to do so for Christmas. And, if all else fails, you may want to stay home and prepare your own Thanksgiving dinner.