So you’ve made the decision to host family Thanksgiving this year. Still not sure if it was a good idea or not? Well, we’re here to help you plan a gathering that the family will love!
Follow these tips to help you out when hosting family Thanksgiving:
Have a plan: Perhaps the most important part of hosting any kind of family gathering is that you need to have a plan. You’ll want to plan out every detail, from where everyone will sit to what you’ll be cooking. If children will be attending, you may want to consider setting up a “kid’s area” for them to sit, eat, and play board games or do a little coloring. When planning out the meal, you should also have a list of what needs to go in the oven when or when you’ll want to start making the coleslaw so that it isn’t done 30 minutes after the turkey’s finished baking.
Make it fun: Family gatherings are always a good time, and you’ll want to make sure that your guests are enjoying themselves while they’re there. To keep everyone occupied while the food is cooking, bring out a few board games or other games that everyone can play. Also set out some appetizers so that everyone can munch and you can avoid anyone getting too “hangry.” Of course it’s likely that the men will be watching football, but you may even want to consider recording the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade so that the kids can watch it instead of arguing over a toy or running into the kitchen to tell you how hungry they are.
Relax: While the idea of hosting family Thanksgiving may seem like a double-edged sword – both enjoyable and stressful – you should remember to relax. Nothing is going to go perfect anyway, but if it does, congratulations, you’re one of the lucky few! You’re bound to break a few dishes, for a side to not turn out the way you wanted it to, for someone to inevitably show up extremely late, and a few children to argue, but if you remember that it’s about spending time with those you love more than it’s about preparing the perfect meal, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy yourself.
