Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and many individuals are gearing up for their holiday celebrations. For countless people, holiday festivities agendas look very similar. They usually include a family gathering of some kind, filled with plenty of eating, reminiscing, socializing, and other assorted activities. However, one perspective that you may not consider if you have this type of holiday season is that of the individual stuck in the middle of a divided family.These are a few of the things to expect if you've got multiple celebrations to attend for every holiday.
1. Intense planning is crucial.
After receiving multiple invitations to different Thanksgiving get-togethers, you can't simply decide to skip one or more of them. Instead, you need to plan out each second of the entire day perfectly so you're able to make an appearance at each. Timing is everything. You should coordinate an appropriate amount of time for a bit of socialization, a bit of eating, and a few family activities at each event. And make sure to take into account the commute to the next gathering, of course.
2. You get double the interrogation.
Without a doubt, most of us know how it goes to be a young adult at a family gathering. Especially if you don't see much of your relatives between holidays, they're bound to be curious about what you've been up to over the past months. Easter to Thanksgiving is a long time, after all. Definitely expect the following questions:
"How's school going? What were you studying again? How are you planning on getting a job in that field?"
"Are you seeing anyone? If so, for how long? How'd you meet? What do they do? Are they in school?"
And so on.
Undoubtedly, most of your relatives are going to be asking you each of these questions, so by the end of the day you'll never want to reflect on your life ever again. For those of us making it to multiple familial events in one day, the number of questions simply multiplies. Eventually, you learn to just tell people what they want to hear. It's good interviewing practice, I suppose.
3. Awkward conversations will be brought up regarding the "other" family.
This is especially prevalent amongst families separated by divorce or other similar circumstances. Being the primary connection between the two (or more) groups, all of the hot gossip is expected to be translated through you. Any important updates or crazy stories about the other family will be anticipated from both sides.
At the same time, hints of jealousy may arise here or there throughout the day, especially if you attempt to eat at multiple celebrations. Excuses such as "I already ate a bit at. . ." or "I need to save room to eat again later at. . ." are unacceptable. Jealousy is something to be anticipated. Therefore, expect to eat lots of food. (Which is definitely not a bad thing.)
4. It's easy to feel the love.
Even if you don't necessarily have a bigger family, going to multiple celebrations makes you feel immersed in tons of love, several times over. There's nothing quite like walking into a home full of those who love and care for you; to be able to experience this multiple times in one day is truly a blessing. Be sure to savor the feeling and fill your heart enough to last until the next holiday.
