Tempers, emotions, and human drama can easily happen when a bunch of people, especially family sit together for a meal.
Here are some tips to keep your Thanksgiving dinner conversation healthy, happy, and peaceful for everybody’s sake, and to avoid indigestion and more…
NO POLITICS, RELIGION, OR PAINFUL ISSUES!
Set some ground rules. It is allowed.
In our household, these 3 topics are banned during any meal time. If someone must talk about it, they can do it privately with individual members.Also avoid attacking or blaming each other. It’s not the time nor the place, especially when there are outside guests and children around.
CATCH UP
Focus on catching up with family members and friends on their latest life events, especially those that came from out of town you haven’t seen in awhile. Focus on them and not so much yourself or irrelevant matters.
POSITIVE TALK
Go around the table and have everybody share positive news, events, and stories that happened to them this year.
FUNNY STORIES
This is always very popular and effective. Have people share funny stories, events, jokes, pictures, etc., anything that can provoke a good laugh for everyone.
THANKFUL
This is traditional but it works. Go around and have people share what they are thankful for.
There’s bound to be a few grumps in the crowd, but redirect your conversation to keep it light, positive, and genuine, so you and your family and friends can enjoy the food and the conversation without it turning into a soap opera real fast.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!