As the year slowly reaches its end, we are all looking forward to the holidays. That holiday may be Christmas, Hanukkah, or other festive December holidays, but first, we must get through Thanksgiving. There are some great parts about Thanksgiving, such as family and friends gathering, watching the football game, and a big feast. The holiday is usually overlooked as it has a controversial origin, and it is sandwiched between two of the more popular holidays, Christmas and Halloween. At least through social media videos, one common occurrence on Thanksgiving is a problematic relative who brings up topics that may make others uncomfortable or aggravated. As family members, they are always invited and welcomed to dinner, but some may prefer staying out of conversation with this person. Here are some ways that you can get around these awkward moments and have a stress-free holiday.

The One Who Can’t Cook

Thanksgiving is a time for people to bring out their best recipes and create delicious entrees, sides or desserts. Someone is usually in charge of the main course of turkey, while others may bring their own homemade meals to the table. Maybe there is an old traditional family recipe that is passed down that is used to make a delicious casserole or something. However, not everyone is blessed with that skill, but they still offer their dish. It would be rude not to try their food, especially when they have been hyping it up all evening. Personally, I am a known picky eater, so I could get away with simply not adding it to my plate, but for others, maybe just give it a bite. If you are fortunate enough to be in a home with a dog, they are great for taking the food that you don’t eat under the table. To avoid being rude, you could suggest that they try doing something different or encourage them to keep cooking, so that next year they return with something more pleasurable.

The One With Opinions

A family is bonded by blood but can be separated by opinions. Some family members you only see around the holidays, and they live very different lives than you. When you’re all gathered together and start having conversations, particular people bring up their opinions on things that may stand out at the table. While at first you may think of the members who have different political views than you, that applies, but it could also just be their opinions on other matters that just don’t sit right. Maybe they have opinions on the way another relative does something and bring it up in a negative manner. To combat this, simply staying quiet and just nodding your head can get their approval and move the night along. However, maybe you strongly disagree, and if you have had enough, stand up for yourself and debate them, and create a night to remember. Stay safe.

The Kids

I would assume that the readers here are over the age where they sit at the main table with most of the family. In my family, there are a lot of younger kids, and they usually tend to sit and play together in their own area. Depending on how young they are, they can get a little too overstimulating with their ruckus and commotion. Nice vocabulary. With the increase in accessibility to technology, a lot of children are equipped with iPads that they bring with them everywhere. The children may bring up some of the absurd things that they see online, such as brain rot or things they shouldn’t know about. There is also the iPad kid cough you must watch out for. Honestly, sometimes it can be fun to just try to understand what they are saying and join in. They may remember you as the cool relative.

There are many other things you could do to avoid awkward moments at Thanksgiving dinner. A method that can be used for any situation you want to get out of is to ask where the bathroom is and stay in there as long as you can; that is my go-to. But seriously, holidays are a great time for families to rekindle, make, and share great memories. Thanksgiving should be a day that you look forward to, celebrate, and appreciate the things that you are thankful for. Some people’s holidays don’t go as planned, and that is unfortunate, but at least you can make yourself feel better by buying some nice things at a discount for Black Friday!