Inflation, job cuts and a murky political landscape…oh my. No matter your age or situation, modern times are serving no shortage of challenges. Even deciding how you will celebrate Thanksgiving can be stressful, given grocery prices and current travel concerns.
But a day off of school or work should be relaxing, right? After all, what are the holidays without enjoying delicious food (and maybe a football game or holiday movie) and precious time with friends and family? So, as interesting as things may be right now, try these helpful tips to promote a positive atmosphere at the dinner table this year.
1. Prioritize positivity.
Keep an open mind and a positive attitude. Chances are, you have extended family members, or maybe even some people in your own household, with opinions that are different from yours. Listen, hear their side and present your own, calmly and rationally. If that’s not possible and you feel like you’re talking in circles, pause, note that you agree to disagree and change the subject.
2. Set some ground rules upfront.
If you know you have family members who are bound to get riled up or seem to enjoy starting a little drama, consider displaying or agreeing upon a list of “banned” topics. For example — agree to not discuss politics or religious viewpoints and instead, stick to safer topics — like home improvement projects you’re working on or funny family stories. And when all else fails, there’s always the weather (especially in Michigan!).
3. Control the conversation.
Try one of these 48 questions to get a fun mealtime conversation rolling — with positive topics like food, entertainment and your family member’s life stories. You may learn a thing or two and find more common ground than you thought you had with those aunts, uncles or cousins from another state. When you ask questions like: “What’s the last movie that made you laugh aloud?” or “Who’s the most important role model you’ve had in your life?” — you can truly learn a lot about someone and relate in new, inspiring ways.
4. Lighten the mood with laughter.
Sometimes it helps to turn table talk into gut-busting laughter. Everyone loves a good laugh – from jokes to memorable movie quotes to personal stories to impersonations. If you have a funny person in the family or group, be sure to bring out their best – and funniest – stories. Afterall, the jokester in the group can be a real hero in terms of lightening the mood or, if need be, changing the subject. Need help evoking laughter? Real Simple offers these 36 funny Thanksgiving conversation starters. And if you really need to produce a laugh, you can try the original ice breaker: Heard any good jokes lately?
5. Try table trivia.
Rather than arguing or bumming everyone out with negative topics, turn mealtime into a friendly competition with these fun and free trivia questions that cover a variety of interesting and lighthearted subjects. Make it extra fun with team names or prizes for the winners. Trivia can be a real hit before, during or after mealtime – if it helps, play it by ear or, you can build your entire get together around this friendly competition. Good luck!
6. Focus on the food.
A great way to keep spirits high at the dinner table is through flavor! That’s because great food brings us all together. So, if it’s not too much work, commit to cooking your family’s most famous recipes. Does Grandma have a stuffing combo that everyone raves about? What about your cousin’s pumpkin pie or your uncle’s turkey prep method? Using family recipes adds to the experience as much as the taste, as it gives you even more to talk about while you eat. As a bonus, serve your five-star food on family tableware to spark memories and stories of family holidays past.
7. Keep it kid friendly.
If you have little ones celebrating the holiday, include them as much as possible. After all, most extended families can put their differences aside for the sake of the children. After your meal, set up a Thanksgiving scavenger hunt, game night or craft. Grandparents love to teach kids their favorite card games and there are so many ideas online to turn your holiday into a fun fest for the kiddos. And if seating the kids at your table isn’t an option, keep all kiddie tables close by so none of the adults get out of hand at yours.
8. Check up on family health history.
National Family Health History Day happens each November around Thanksgiving, making it the perfect time to discuss health – and health risks – that may run in your family. The idea is that when families get together, they can carve the turkey and carve out some time to share any updates to the family’s medical history, which can have a big impact on everyone’s individual health.
9. Kick off a kindness train.
Leading with kindness could turn your table talk into a time of helpful solutions for all. Ask this question of each guest (including yourself) — “Is there anything you need help with right now?” You might be surprised what answers pop up. Maybe someone is short on meals or household supplies when others have plenty to spare and share. Kids may need some ideas to stay busy or active while they have some days off from school while one of the adults may need help choosing a health plan during open enrollment.
10. Know when to step away.
If, even despite your best attempts, things get a little heated — leave the table and take a breather. It may be a good idea to step outside for a quick, brisk walk alone or with one or two of your guests who make you feel relaxed and at peace. In fact, you can build in some outdoor time for everyone to work off those extra calories after dessert. Once you get outside and get moving in the fresh fall air, things may feel a lot more positive.
Remember that you can’t choose your family or control all of the current chaos, but you can choose positivity for your holiday season.
