It's almost impossible to have a stress-free and drama-free Thanksgiving, as life is unexpected and things can go wrong quickly. Maybe the turkey didn't turn out as bad as you thought, but your aunt did bring her estranged child and now you have to sit at the kid's table with this weirdo.
There is a way to make this a great and peaceful family gathering, so long as you follow the Thanksgiving do's and don'ts. Just remember, if you feel uncomfortable or if you know your grandmother is going to point out how fat you've gotten, feel free to excuse yourself and run away.
DO: be polite and courteous, even if you can't stand the people in your home.
Today, it's not about you. So do everyone a favor and just be nice, for this short while.
DON'T: look to start problems by being petty or bringing up past sh*t.
As fun as it is to bring up people's past and be petty as hell, you're better than that. So don't be a d*ck.
DO: offer to help serve others, refill their glasses, and clean up after.
This little gesture will mean a lot to those at the table, especially for the host who has gone out of their way for this gathering.
DON'T: "go for a walk" with your siblings/cousins and come back and stuff your face.
As tempting as it may be, if your older siblings or cousins invite you to go for a little walk before dinner is served, don't do it. People will notice when you come back to the table and your eyes are bloodshot.
DO: be mindful of others when talking about current events/hot topics (i.e. race, sexual orientation, gender, etc.).
Just be aware of how some people might react to certain topics. You don't want to make anyone uncomfortable.
DON'T: talk about politics, ever, at all.
If there's only one thing you take away from this do's and don'ts list, it's this. Don't talk about politics; not politics in this country or another country. Ever. Please.
DO: thank the host (even if it's your own family) and tell them you enjoyed the meal.
A small 'thank you' goes a long way, especially if no one else has thanked the cook or the host.
DON'T: go for seconds until everyone else has eaten and there is sufficient food for a second serving.
Chances are that you'll be stuffed from your first plate, but wait until everyone has finished eating their first plate before going for seconds, and make sure there is plenty of food left for everyone else.
DO: remember that you can't choose your family, but you can choose how to react to them.
You may bump heads with them, but you can choose to deescalate the situation or remove yourself from any conversation where you feel that you might react negatively. At the end of the day, they're your family.
DON'T: make a scene, even if you're having the worst day of your life.
Yes, everyone is entitled to a bad day (you got your period, your bf/gf dumped you, you're scheduled to work on Black Friday), but don't project that negative energy onto everyone else. Put on a happy face and don't make a scene.