There is a special feeling that comes with heading home for the holidays. Whether you're boarding a plane, catching a train, or packing your belongings into your car, this Thanksgiving, you'll surely be flooded with a wealth of emotions. Imagining that first bite of your grandmother's pumpkin pie is enough to already make your mouth water. You look forward to outdrinking your mom in wine. And let's not forget, thinking about going out with your high school friends for the first time in a while may make your liver feel slightly weak. No matter where you are coming from or going to this Thanksgiving, you definitely have your own set of family traditions to look forward to. However, if you come from a huge family like I do, you can probably expect the following things to happen:
1. Half of you won't get a seat at the dinner table
With an extended family of roughly 50 or more people, the dining room table gets a little cramped. You'll sit on couches, the living room floor, or even outside on the porch with your plate on your lap. Well, enjoy it now because someday the old folks that get their designated seats at the table every year.... will be you. Yikes. Bottoms up!
2. You may starve before the "late family member" arrives
My grandma is too thoughtful to bring out the bird before every. single. person. arrives. (This is literally her only flaw.) When you come from a big family, someone is always notoriously late for Thanksgiving dinner. The struggle is so real when you and nine of your cousins are all hovered over the same cracker and cheese plate, just eyeing the turkey and potatoes and macaroni that must not leave the counter until every guest is accounted for. Dammit, where the hell is Uncle Jack?!
3. You'll get stuck talking to people you don't even know
If the host/hostess of your Thanksgiving dinner is anything like my grandma, they definitely have that "the more the merrier!" attitude. Everyone in my family knows that anyone who's anyone is welcome to our holiday gatherings, so there's always at least two or three people at each function that I swear I've never seen before. Pull out that fake smile and get ready to answer some way too personal questions! Pass me the wine!
4. You'll forget who's actually related to you and who isn'tFor years, my cousin thought that my grandma's best friend was actually another one of our aunts. Some guests return year after year, and you forget exactly how you're related to them, if at all. You're all under one roof for every holiday, so everyone just becomes adopted family.
5. You'll serve yourself - buffet style
With so many people to feed, a proper sit down dinner is just not realistic. Every dish will be laid out on one long table, and everyone will line up with a plate in hand, and fill up buffet style. Of course, there are designated family members who have apparently earned seniority and always claim the front of the line. I dodged being beaten over the head with a drumstick for trying to cut last year. It was serious.
7. You'll BYOB
So many people, and so little booze. Coming from a huge family, you know better than to leave your alcohol supply up to the pot luck. You'll make your annual stop at the liquor store before showing up for dinner because hello? it's essential.
8. You will RUN, not walk, to that dessert table
Get to that pie before it looks like someone took a jack hammer to it! But seriously, it is way too easy to completely destroy a pie just by trying to take an innocent little piece from it. You've learned to claim your dessert before toddler hands have made each item completely unrecognizable. Plus, the same goes for the dessert as does the alcohol. So many people, and only so much to go around. Do not put yourself on the negative end of that math equation.
9. You will feel so incredibly thankful
Having an enormous, lively, diverse family is such a blessing. Crowding everyone under one roof only happens a few times a year, and these occasions are very special. Amongst all the food and drinks, you'll have some of the best laughs and make amazing memories with your family, which is what this day is all about. Happy Thanksgiving from my crazy family to yours!
