Anonymous wrote:We do this every few years. DH loves it because it's "my family's holiday" and he gets a little break from them. Somehow, though, we never get a pass on Christmas, "his family's holiday."

Well that would kind of make me feel like shit.

Lucky girl! I wish my MIL would give us a break for once. She ruins every single holiday and birthday.

We're going to be alone but I am making our own dinner. We never get to take any leftovers home from the ILs. It will be so nice to just relax. DH can watch football games without his know-it-all older brother commenting.

We do this every few years. DH loves it because it's "my family's holiday" and he gets a little break from them. Somehow, though, we never get a pass on Christmas, "his family's holiday."

wait.. you love your families? Your families sound awful

I'm so so so jealous.

I got 'sick of spirit' last Thanksgiving and stayed home while DH went with the kids to his cousins'. It was so very nice not having to be there that I plan on being sick again this year. He can go if he wants but I'm not. I'll order in - or maybe get some Ben & Jerry's.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BTDT. Surprisingly, I missed the crazy family and never did it again.

I would too. My family is dysfunctional but at least we get some good stories for later in DCUM.

OP here. *MAYBE* this will be us... we'll see. If we find that Thanksgiving really just isn't Thanksgiving without the yelling and simmering resentment then we'll re-enter the fray next year. Right now I just feel genuinely Thankful and that gives me peace.

To the rest of you, our secret code will be this: wear a red scarf (or pocket square for guys) to a restaurant on Thanksgiving, and we will smile knowingly and raise our glasses to each other! *clink*

Anonymous wrote:BTDT. Surprisingly, I missed the crazy family and never did it again.

I would too. My family is dysfunctional but at least we get some good stories for later in DCUM.

We go to Mexico for every Thanksgiving and Europe for every Christmas.

We did it last year. Hallelujah, it was divine. Have a great holiday!

BTDT. Surprisingly, I missed the crazy family and never did it again.

Take me too!

Take me with you OP.

I just had to tell someone that I am doing a happy dance because I just booked Thanksgiving dinner at a nice restaurant for me, DH, and DD.

We love our families, but holy cow has Thanksgiving become an unpleasant production. DHs family does it big so we used to go them every year, but between FIL drinking way too much then MIL getting hostile and loud about it, and then spoiled resentful cousin quietly bullying DD for intruding on her turf, SILs and BILs acting chummy and then backbiting like a weird reality show, Fox news blaring nonstop, and so on. No thanks - we decided to visit them another winter date, see them all separately (which is actually fun and much nicer), and keep our holiday sweet and simple.

And just like that, I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving for the first time in years!