When was the last time you had dinner with your extended family? Thanksgiving is an excellent time to do that. It gives everyone who attends Thanksgiving dinner time to interact with each other, make memories, and enjoy a meal together. Here are some simple things you can do while visiting your family.
Plan Ahead For Travel
If you are able, it would be a good idea to plan ahead if you need to fly across the country to visit relatives for Thanksgiving dinner. There could be delays because of the sheer number of people who are traveling at the same time. Don’t wait to book a flight at the last minute, as this could cause you to miss the opportunity to spend time with your relatives.
Provide Entertainment
Typically, there will be a long stretch of time before Thanksgiving dinner is ready. If you arrived early, consider turning on the TV so the kids (and adults) can watch the Thanksgiving’s Day Parade together. There is bound to be some conversation about the floats and music in the parade.
There could be a football game happening. Chances are, at least some of your relatives would love to watch the game together. Maybe you want to join them. Watching sports is a good way to form a bond with relatives that you haven’t seen in a while.
Be Useful
Ask the relatives who are in the kitchen, working hard on the Thanksgiving dinner, if they need some help. Maybe they need you to go to the grocery store and pick up items they forgot to buy (or have already run out of). Ask if you can help by washing the dishes. The kitchen will be the busiest place in the house. You can get a conversation started by asking relatives about the food they are making. Sometimes, there is a family story connected to that food.
Take Photos
Thanksgiving might be the only time you see some of your relatives – especially if they had to travel far to the home of the family hosting Thanksgiving. Make sure you take some photos of your relatives while you are there. All you need is a smartphone and family members who are willing to be photographed. You can share those phones later on social media for your family members to see. Photographs mark a special moment in time and bring back happy memories.
Remember Those Who Have Passed Away
Some of your relatives may be grieving the loss of a loved one. Realizing that the person won’t be there this Thanksgiving is hard. One way to remember them is with a toast. Allow people to share their happy memories about those who are gone. This may not be the best idea if a beloved relative passed away very recently. It all depends on how your family handles grief.
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Keep The Kids Entertained On Thanksgiving