Thanksgiving Day Stress Relievers For Busy Families

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The countdown to Thanksgiving has begun.  The menu is written out, the grocery list is made, and now all we have to do is go shopping.  Sounds easy, doesn’t it?  Once you get those things done, then the plans should go along smoothly, right?

But, somehow when Thanksgiving Day comes, there always seems to be chaos.  Either a dish is forgotten, kids are underfoot, or you’ve run out of chairs.

Here’s where planning comes in.  Yes, you want to serve a nice meal, and for the most part you have that handled.  So, where does the chaos begin?  Perhaps in all the extras you need to consider when you have a full house and a full table.  Let’s take a look at a few simple ideas to get over the hurdles and avoid the craziness that comes with such a busy holiday.

Ask for help with dinner.

While you are planning your menu, take a look at all the dishes that will require your oven.  Will you be able to fit everything in around the turkey?  Perhaps Aunt Mary can bring those wonderful Candied Carrots she made last year at her house.  Maybe instead of trying to fit dinner rolls in the oven to bake, Cousin Nicole could bring a batch and just heat them up.  As the Thanksgiving host, you want to provide your own specialties, but you don’t have to provide everything.

Map out your day.

This involves at least two maps; one for the food and one for the table setting.  Write down your entire menu and list who’s going to bring what.  Post this right on the front of your refrigerator along with a pencil to cross off dishes as they are brought out.  Forgetting Great-Grandma’s special Cranberry Relish is not good and can cause embarrassment or hurt feelings.  The table setting map should include an actual drawing of the table, chairs, and place settings.  This way you will instantly see if you are missing something, like Grandpa’s favorite chair and cushion or Baby Jennie’s highchair.

Have fun and games ready.

This is very often where the chaos begins in many households.  When guests walk in the door with their baskets of food, they also walk in the door with kids looking for something to do.  While the adults are busy in the kitchen, the kids are getting bored; and bored kids lead to trouble. Plan for instant fun for the kids and have games and activities out and ready.  This is another area in which you can delegate.  Have each family bring one fun craft or game for the kids to do either before or after dinner.  Here are a couple ideas to get you thinking:

  • Set up a table away from the kitchen with construction paper, glue, crayons, and kiddie scissors. Have one fun craft done ahead of time and sitting on the table.  For younger kids you might like to try a hand-print construction paper turkey.  Each child can use the items provided and create their own turkey, write their name on it, and bring it with them to the table for a special place marker.
  • For older children you may want to get a guessing game ready.  Write down names of famous people from history, television, movies, or even your own family members, on slips of paper and throw them in a bowl.  Each child draws out a name and becomes that person.  The other children take turns asking questions about the person and the first person to guess the identify wins.  Limit the number of questions to around ten to keep the game moving.  You can even provide props like fancy hats, eye glasses, or even wigs.

I know your day is already crazy with planning and preparation, and it seems like one more idea about how to plan ahead may seem overwhelming, but truly, if you put into place these simple strategies, the big day will be less chaotic and much more enjoyable.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.

Warm regards,

Susanne – The Hillbilly Housewife

www.HillbillyHousewife.com

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5 Tips For A Stress Free Thanksgiving Dinner

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Why do people always get stressed at the holidays?

Is it the rush to get everything done? Is it wanting everything to be “perfect”? Is it having to deal with family members that know how to push our buttons? Most likely it is a little of each.

What can you do to have a  stress free Thanksgiving dinner?

Here are a few simple tips to help you have a more enjoyable Thanksgiving dinner.

Plan Ahead

Plan your work, then work your plan.  You’ve heard it a thousand times before.    Instead of doing it all yourself get your family to help out.  The work will go faster and it’s just more fun when you are working together.  Make a list of what needs done before everyone arrives.  Give everyone something to do and assign things that are age appropriate to the children.  Before you know it, the leftovers will be wrapped in foil and everyone will have had a great time.

Pot Luck, Anyone?

If you are having a large group get together for Thanksgiving ask each family attending to bring their favorite dish and a dessert.   Since you’re hosting this shin-dig you should provide the main dish (turkey or ham) and the drinks.  To  make sure everything your family enjoys eating at Thanksgiving is represented, create a “sign-up” sheet so everyone can choose what they’ll be bringing and none of your favorite things is left out of the menu.

Keep It Simple, Silly

There’s no rule that you have to have a huge feast at Thanksgiving so consider preparing a smaller meal instead.   Another option is to prepare as much ahead of time as you can.  Slow cookers can be used to make all kinds of foods, even desserts.  Many things can also be made as “freezer meals” and stored for weeks before re-heating them.  The less actual cooking you need to do on Thanksgiving, the lower your stress levels will be.

Make Beautiful Music -Family Harmony

While you can’t make everyone happy, there are ways to promote a peaceful, relaxing dinner.  Use place cards to put the people who tend to bicker further away from each other during dinner.   This will help alleviate some of the tensions.

Give Thanks

Simply taking the time to be thankful for all your blessings can reduce your stress level.  Before everyone arrives, take the time to list all that you’re thankful for over the last year.  Have everyone share their blessings before dinner.   Having a better attitude will help everyone enjoy the day more.

Stress doesn’t have to ruin the holidays.  If you stop to smell the turkey, and plan ahead, you can have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Planning and organization, while not great fun, can help you enjoy things later once all the guests arrive.

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