Thanksgiving Can Still Be Special
Thanksgiving is a bit of a strange holiday for me. Growing up and throughout college, I ate the same food every year at my grandparents’ house. But after college, when I moved across the country looking for newspaper work, things got shaky. That first year, I worked on Thanksgiving, covering food delivery for senior citizens, and then hosted a lunch for some of the other rookie reporters. In the years that followed, my then boyfriend (now husband) and I spent a few Thanksgiving days with friends, and then his family began traveling to join us for the holiday. A few years ago, when we returned to the East Coast, we traveled to Ohio for a family vacation. This year, for the first time on Turkey Day, we will be only three – me, my husband and our son.
I know people have struggled ( or are still struggling ?) With the decision to go visit their loved ones this Thanksgiving. It might seem like the choice is between a traditional, idyllic gathering of a large family or a holiday that is completely overshadowed. But after so many years of changing people at my own table on Thanksgiving Day, I want to note that no matter how small or was your “assembly” in this year, it can still be special.
Bear with me because I know it sucks . I really want to go to Ohio. Throughout this pandemic, I saw neither my parents, nor my elderly grandfather, nor my brother, nor my daughter-in-law, nor my three nieces – except for one quick, most socially distant trip to my grandmother’s funeral in June. It’s terrible, but that’s okay too, because heck I can still make Thanksgiving special. And you can too.
Get the kids involved
If there ever was a year when kids could smash the kitchen while cooking Thanksgiving dinner, this is this one. Why? Because it doesn’t matter if the food is late at the table. It doesn’t matter if the puree is too runny or if you have toasted the filling. You have exactly zero people to impress, but you can give your kids an experience by helping cook and “having” their first Thanksgiving, which most of us don’t even try to do until we establish ourselves. coming of age.
This year, for the first time, I am instructing my son to cook my grandmother’s applesauce. It will help him feel connected to our Ohio family, it will respect her (even if it may not be as good as it always has), and it will help him feel part of the day’s effort. Let your kids take turns basing the turkey – or heck if you have a teenager, give them a chance to slice it up the first time, because why not. Let this food be their food; if it is partially (or completely) a disaster, it will make history even better in the coming years.
Use “good things” anyway
Put away shiny napkins, the prettiest plates you have, hand-painted glasses and cloth napkins. Of course, it’s just you, your partner, a three-year-old and a six-year-old, but who cares? Do your best. Even if you don’t cook the turkey and all the snacks — even if you’re just ordering a couple of pizzas or collecting takeaways — food and drinks will be tastier if the decor is as sophisticated as possible.
This is a signal to the brain, and to the brain of your children, that this food is special. This may be the 47th time they ate a slice of pepperoni from Bruno’s Pizzeria during the pandemic, but this slice is a special Thanksgiving slice.
Set the mood
Perhaps your family is the one who lights candles, dims the lights, and plays relaxing music in the background. Or maybe it’s more your speed to listen to music and have a festive pre-dinner dance party. Whatever mood you’re trying to create, be it gratitude and reflection mode or all-out party mode, go for broke. Dine with everyone dressed in those holiday pajamas you spent on this year as National Lampoon’s Christmas break plays on a loop. background.
This year is unlike any other. Ditch the tradition and do pretty much whatever you want to make it more special than any other casual Thursday.