So, we all know that going home over Thanksgiving doesn’t always go as planned. What starts out as a fun holiday break and a few days off of school ends up as a lot of unexpected drama and rude comments that you weren’t expecting. Although it’s always nice to see family and friends after a long separation, sometimes it’s hard to go home after a long departure and deal with all of the questions that always comes up and the arguments to be expected.
Here are a few awkward things I always expect to happen over Thanksgiving and my feelings about them:
“Do you have a boyfriend yet?”
This one always comes up for me and I feel like it’s one of the most frustrating questions. Mostly, because the answer is always no. But also because if I was in a relationship and felt comfortable telling the family and introducing them–I would initiate that myself. I feel like this is just one of those conversation fillers that an older relative brings up and intentions are probably good, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating. I usually just answer with no and brace any insulting comments that comes after questioning me about why I’m not getting busy husband-searching at the age of nineteen. *insert sigh here*
Awkward political discussions.
Why do politics always come up at family dinners?!? No, but really, why? We all know that this is unavoidable because everyone has such strong opinions but it’s honestly so annoying when someone brings up a political topic that is so controversial and you’re the kid that’s been off to college and not really around much. I always feel like my opinions are invalidated either because I’m not a “true adult” yet or because I’m the family member that has been gone for a while so I can’t come back and push my “political agenda” that’s seen as crafted by my professors.
The family member who can’t cook.
Suffering through a casserole with a smile on your face even though everyone agrees that it’s gross is just uncomfortable for everyone. “Oh, this is my favorite!” you say as you push it around with your fork and avoid it as much as possible, eating a few bites before saying you’re “too full” to finish it.
Those family members that you don’t see often.
Seeing family members for the first time since last Thanksgiving is so awkward because you have no idea how to talk to them? Maybe this is where all of the awkward “are you in a relationship?” conversation stems from, but it’s hard to communicate with a group of people you’re related to and barely know.
That’s just a start to the very long list of awkward family stuff over Thanksgiving, but definitely some of the most annoying problems I face. Good luck over the holidays, and don’t ask your family members if they’re in a relationship yet! (It’s rude).