• Home
  • Travel
  • About Stephanie
  • Work With Me

How to Survive Life in the Suburbs

The Truth About Thanksgiving

in Everyday on 10/08/16

dinner-setting

Thanksgiving, if we’re lucky, Thanksgiving is that one day a year we all gather with our families and give thanks for our many blessings.  We embrace that warm and fuzzy feeling that comes with this Holiday and then hang onto it as long as we can.

As it approaches, visions of perfect Turkey dinners dance through our heads.  Long walks through the autumn leaves with our kids.  Evenings wrapped in warm sweaters against the chilly autumn air.  Time spent indulging in wine by the fire, eating too much from appetizers to pie.  Laughing with those who know us the best.  Making the kids (and the adults) put those cell phones away to squeeze in precious time with Grandparents and cousins.  That’s how you enjoy a Rockwell Norman type Thanksgiving weekend, right?

Pft.  Reality check.  The truth is there’s a dark side to Thanksgiving here in the suburbs.  Some weird kind of pre-dinner turkey day drama.  Why? Because Thanksgiving doesn’t just magically “happen“.  (Even if that’s what your Husband seems to think.)  There’s a whole lot of work revolving around that stupid bird.

Magical turkey day prep looks something like this:
Cleaning.
Stomping of feet. (that might be me)
Heavy sighs.
Dropping of half of paycheque at grocery store for the Thanksgiving feast.
Yelling at my sweet, sweet family to help me with the damn cleaning.
More cleaning and foot stomping.
Slightly heated conversations about what the teen girls will wear to dinner.
Pouting because I hate all my clothes.
Wondering why I didn’t go buy myself something new to wear.  Good grief.
Rush job on laundry so teen girls have “acceptable” Thanksgiving dinner attire.
One last run to the grocery store because I forgot the cranberry sauce that nobody will eat anyway.
Cooking!
Massive turkey success.
Fabulous family time.
Dinner you prepped for for 3 days over in 40 minutes because …. dessert.
More freaking cleaning.
Sigh.

Every single time I host a big old family event it’s the same destructive pattern.

This year, a different approach to the Holiday Feast. Will it be less stressed? Less chaotic? More manageable? I think so. This year my friends, for the second year in a row, I have hit he Thanksgiving jackpot. Two Thanksgiving dinners on different days and I’m not hosting either one of them! WHAT! I’m just taking desserts. My girls have been put on notice that they had better have their skinny little butts organized, I shall not be doing laundry at midnight this year. Outfits for Thanksgiving feasts will be ready. I don’t have to clean my house. I just have to help clean up after two dinners which is NO problem at all. All the benefits of the big fabulous family time and none of the stress.

This my friends is the way to do Thanksgiving.
Hope you all have a warm, fuzzy and drama free weekend!

Mwah!

  • « A Picture Perfect Day In Florence
    Beaches Negril – 10 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Paradise »

    Comments

    1. Debbie White Beattie says

      March 8, 2017 at 11:03 pm

      My mother has always done the holiday dinner and I can honestly say that we don’t appreciate her hard work and now I have to call her and really thank her for all she does. Thanks for the reminder !

    2. LeslieC says

      December 26, 2016 at 4:48 am

      That used to our family Thanksgiving but a few years ago my mom, siblings & I decided NOT this year and instead had a huge family dinner with Lasagna!

    3. Darlene Schuller says

      December 3, 2016 at 7:06 am

      Thanksgiving & Christmas are hell on a person. The End.

    4. Jay M says

      November 23, 2016 at 3:03 pm

      Ha! I used to be like this about Christmas…I feel like everything has to be perfect. I still do, but I’m just better at planning now. The good thing about Christmas is the festivities are spread out over days. Thanksgiving – not so much!

    5. Stephanie LaPlante says

      October 22, 2016 at 1:09 pm

      Oh I want Thanksgiving again!

    « Older Comments
    Travel addict, sun seeker, coffee drinker, fashion lover, picture taker. This is a peek behind the closed and competitive doors of the suburbs. A place to come to learn about the best places to travel with your kids in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and beyond! stephanie@sassymodernmom.com
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

    Search This Site

    Guest Blogging For ETCanada & Skinny Cow

    At the GRAMMYs !
    Stephanie Holmes

    sassymodernmom

    Canadian Blogger. Traveler. Influencer. Picture Taker. Family Travel Expert.
    ❤️London ON
    ☀️Always planning my next vacation!

    My forever valentine 💘 My forever valentine 💘
    Drinking margaritas, soaking up the sun and watchi Drinking margaritas, soaking up the sun and watching the whales from our loungers! Paradise found. It’s right here at The Beach Club in @quiviraloscabos 
.
#quiviraloscabos #loscabos #quivira #quivirabeachclub #qlifecabo
    Saying goodbye to 2024 with a grateful heart. Can Saying goodbye to 2024 with a grateful heart. 
Can’t wait for all the adventures coming our way in 2025! Wishing you all a happy healthy New Year 🎉
    One of our best adventures of 2024. This trip to t One of our best adventures of 2024. This trip to the Grand Canyon was truly unforgettable. 
.
.
#roadtrip #arizona #grandcanyon #postcardsfromtheworld #letsgoeverywhere
    Woo hoo - another amazing HomeExchange! This week Woo hoo - another amazing HomeExchange! 
This week we felt all kinds of spoiled in our cozy accommodations in gorgeous Scottsdale. We hiked local trails, snuck in a little golf, drove with the top down, ate all the food, and enjoyed a sweet sunset in our own backyard. All because #Homeexchange provided us with a unique - almost free- way to stay in Arizona and see all the things! 

We had such an amazing time we’re already planning our next adventure! 
Want to plan an escape like this?
Follow the link in my bio to find out how you can plan your first or next Home Exchange.

https://spn.so/49qawpmk

@homeexchangecom #homeexchangepartner 
#homeexchangecom #homeexchange #HomeExchangePartner #LetsGoEverywhere #adventure #budgetfriendly #travel #luxurytravel
    About last night….. . #auroraborealis #londonont About last night…..
.
#auroraborealis #londonontario #ldnont
    It’s true. For the past 3 years we’ve been usi It’s true. For the past 3 years we’ve been using @homeexchangecom to take some epic vacations! 

Lake Como ✅
Cabo ✅
Scottsdale Arizona - on deck! 

If you’re ready for a new adventure sign up now through the affiliate link in my bio and you will automatically receive 250 points!!! ❤️
It’s easy, I promise. 

❤️Umm and if you have a cottage, a condo or second home, why are you not on Home Exchange?? Oh the places you can go! 

💕Drop a comment telling me your dream destination! 

#homeexchangepartner #homeexchange #travelhacks #letsgosomewhere #traveltips #familytravel
    This week my Hubby and I celebrate our 28th weddin This week my Hubby and I celebrate our 28th wedding anniversary. Yup TWENTY EIGHT. How are we celebrating? Between work and family obligations it’s been tricky to make time for us. My solution… book a trip! 

For this adventure we’re once again turning to @homeexchangecom com One or my favourite ways to plan an epic vacation and see the world. 

In the past we’ve stayed in both Lake Como and Los Cabos.  Sigh, they were glorious trips!

Why try a HomeExchange?
HomeExchange offers a whole new experience to stay in real, authentic homes, and live like a local. HomeExchange allows you to stay in areas you never could with a traditional hotel experience. 
 Intrigued? Follow my link and see how easy it is to get started.

https://spn.so/49qawpmk
(Link also in profile)
PS I’m now searching for my next great trip? Which places are on your travel bucket list?

#HomeExchangePartner #MyHomeExchange #familytravel #beautifulplaces #familyadventures #canadiantravel #letsgoeverywhere #travelbucketlist
    Missing those Paris views…. thankful for the mem Missing those Paris views….
thankful for the memories ❤️
.
.
#Paris #tb #girlstrip #ParisFrance #parisfrance🇫🇷 #beautifuldestinations #postcardsfromtheworld
    Out of office …. . . #summervibes #boshkunglake Out of office ….
.
.
#summervibes #boshkunglake #canarvon
    Load More... Follow on Instagram

    Facebook

    Categories

    Blog Archive

    Copyright © 2009-2025 · Life in the Suburbs by KrizzyDesigns

    Copyright © 2025 · Glam Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in