How To Survive Thanksgiving With the Family

Around the same time last year, I offered some no-brainer tips on how to get along with everyone at Thanksgiving.  The tips emanated from the fact that even if you love most of your family members there comes a point during the holiday season when you'd like to get Uncle Pasquale in a headlock and give him a good noogie.  

Personally, I enjoy hanging out with the extended family but come New Year's Day I'm ready to spend a few weeks in isolation in an undisclosed New England cabin (and, yes,  I have preached on the virtues of keeping your family close!). So, without further ado here are 4 tips on how to get along with your dinner companions on Thanksgiving Day  

1. Be nice. Getting along with people is not rocket science.  If you're coming across as cold, snobby, and unwilling to engage in a conversation, you'll most likely be sitting by yourself watching some mediocre football game.  Try extra hard and smile, comb your hair, and engage people in conversation.

2. Have a glass of wine.  I'm not advocating funneling a bottle of Cote du Rhone, but grab a glass of wine when you arrive and it will help you engage people in conversation and just make you feel relaxed.

 

3. Dress nice.  Everyone likes being around people who look good, so keep your jeans and the 30 year old wool sweater in the closet and put on a nice pair of pants and dress shirt.  It also tells the Thanksgiving Day crowd that you acknowledge the holiday and are ready to celebrate or give thanks (if that's your thing)!  Don't pay attention to the above pictures.

4. Bring something to dinner.  Not only will your host appreciate a nice bottle of wine, a fruit platter, or a home made pie, but, again, the gesture will signal to the dinner table that you are excited about the holiday and ready to have a good time.

If you hate Thanksgiving then I can't help you, but it tends to be once of the nicer holidays of the season so enjoy and Happy Turkey Day!