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Thanksgiving Do's and Don't's
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- Don’t go to war with exes and in-laws over where the children are going to spend
the holidays. It’ll tear your children to shreds, and it is very selfish. Take turns
with the holidays.
- Don’t cancel at the last minute unless you’re on your deathbed or you have a
command performance at the White House. No-one will believe you if you claim you got your
days mixed up.
- Don’t arrive too early or too late. If you arrive to early you’ll most likely
find a frazzled, red-faced cook wearing an apron but neither sight nor sound of anyone
resembling a host person. Arriving too late may have the hostess giving you scathing looks
because her turkey got scorched with the wait. Either way, you’ll be confined to
guest hell.
- Don’t bring uninvited guests or pets regardless of how good their etiquette or
petiquette is. The hostess may have had other plans for her leftovers.
- Do not let football games control the agenda for the day. Order in pizza in that case;
it’s the best they deserve.
- Do not keep the TV on during the Thanksgiving meal.
- Do remember that Thanksgiving is about relationships and giving thanks for our good
fortunes, past, present, and future. It is not about gluttony; Thanksgiving is not the
Great Annual Pig-out! Speaking of pigouts, remember your table manners - it’s easy
enough to get indigestion without being revolted by someone’s eating habits.
- Do not keep urging food on guests ad nauseum, or that is exactly what you will get!
- Do not get into White Meat and/or Drumstick Wars. Let those with heart problems have
first choice of the light meat, and leave the drumsticks to the kids; they’re the
only ones who can get away with eating with their hands.
- If your recipes (or your mother’s) are better than those used by the cook, button
it! No-one is remotely interested, let alone thrilled) to hear a critique after having
slaved over a hot stove all day.
- Don’t come, sit and park. Offer to help, especially with the clearing up. However,
if the hostess declines your offer, accept it. Don’t keep harrassing her to let you
help; we each have our individual styles of work.
- Do watch for signals that the meal is over and it’s time to go. Don’t stay at
the table and keep picking. Don’t take up residence; give the hostess some privacy,
peace and quiet.
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