DON’T Be THAT Person
We’ve all had THAT person attend our Thanksgiving. The one person who is constantly asking when the food will be done (but does not lift a single finger in the kitchen). The one who packs a to-go box before getting his/her plate. The person who has zero manners and leaves us asking, “who’s kid is this?” The woman who is doing just a little too much with her outfit. The man who is hogging the TV. The person who is stirring up unnecessary drama in the house. Your goal this year is to not be THAT person.
DON’T Try Out A New Recipe
As a college student, I am expecting a flavorful home-cooked meal after months of rotisserie chicken, soggy eggs, and fries (if I have 10 minutes to wait for them to be cooked) at the cafe. This is not the time, I REPEAT THIS IS NOT THE TIME, to try out that dish you watched on YouTube. Everything brought to Thanksgiving should be a certified banger. This is one of two times during an entire semester that I can eat real food. This is not “I just wanted to try something different,” time. This is “I’ve been waiting for that mac and cheese since I had it last year,” time. I can appreciate your spontaneity, but tradition is all I need in this exact moment.
DON’T pester me about school or my love life
Don’t ask me what my grades are looking like; I still have many assignments to complete and finals that can change a grade completely. Don’t ask me, “how’s your little friend?” He’s not my friend. He’s been my boyfriend for months. Don’t ask me what I want to be when I get out of college. I still don’t know. Don’t ask me why I changed my major. Don’t ask me where I am working over the summer; most applications aren’t even open yet. The umbrella rule for the Thanksgiving talk is: talk about what matters now. We can talk about grades and all the things I am applying for during CHRISTMAS BREAK, when I have a month to reflect on everything and get my thoughts together. I don’t even have a full week to enjoy my break and I still have homework, therefore don’t stress me out. All I need is motivation and positivity to finish the semester strong!
DO Put Your Phone Away
Your phone is not going anywhere! Be in the moment and enjoy your family. They did so much and spent so much to get you home (or to your prospective location), they cooked all this food for you, and they wanted to spend quality time with you! Don’t take that for granted. There are people still at school or not at home who wish that they were! Yes, Christmas is around the corner and you will see them again soon, but nothing is promised. Delete social media for the day if you must, but don’t be antisocial on this special day. Express your gratitude and love for the people you are blessed to call “family.”
DO Make A Tradition
Traditions are unique to your family! It could be a game that you all play together, or it could be sharing a list of things you are thankful for. Whatever it is, make one! It’s a great way to make the day more inclusive, and it gives everyone something to look forward to. It’s easy for families, especially bigger families, to be scattered throughout the house on this holiday. But, incorporating a tradition has the ability to bring everyone together at once. It is a beautiful thing for the older family members to watch the younger ones become a part of the family’s tradition. Make a tradition that matters to you! It’ll remind you of how thankful you are to be in your family.
DO Help Out Where You Can
A lot of us young people just want to sit around and show up to the party once the food is done. We don’t really know how much work goes into Thanksgiving! That being said, we need to start being more helpful. Cooking is a great way to bond with the people you love. Of course our family members are more than capable of taking care of the food, but it would not hurt to lend a helping hand, even if it’s just the easy stuff. Anything that will lighten the load of another person will make Thanksgiving a more joyful experience. If cooking’s not your area of expertise, clean up instead. The last thing anybody wants to do after spending hours in the kitchen is scrape and scrub food. If you can spend maybe just 30 minutes or an hour on the dishes, it would mean so much to the people who served you.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Sincerely,
Drew Miles