It seems as though right after Halloween our society gears up for the Christmas season. We put away our jack-o-lanterns and scarecrows and replace these decorations with garland, twinkle lights, and Christmas trees. We start listening to Wham!’s “Last Christmas” on repeat, have the Hallmark Channel on an endless loop in the living room, and start baking sugar cookies.
However, we pause the Christmas season for a brief moment in November to celebrate one last fall holiday dedicated to delicious food, football, and family: Thanksgiving.
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I am very critical of social media trends (like this one, this one, or this one). With Thanksgiving right around the corner, another social media trend has sadly resurfaced and has been plaguing For You pages everywhere. The trend that I am referring to is the “I-Hate-My-Horrible-Family” one that everyone seems to be participating in nowadays.
If you’re lucky enough to not have seen any of these videos, here is the gist for context: A snarky younger adult makes a satirical video about how Thanksgiving will undoubtedly be a horrible holiday because their Uncle Jeffrey or Aunt Sally has a different political view than they do and everyone will get into a fight and no one actually even wants to be there… etc.
I find this trend, frankly, stupid. (And disrespectful, while we’re being honest.)
Is spending a holiday with your supposedly awful family really that dreadful? Are they even really that awful? Is your Aunt Margaret really asking time and time again when your boyfriend is going to pop the question? Or why you don’t have kids yet? Is your cousin really trying to convince you to buy cryptocurrency? Is your uncle’s political views really so outlandish that you can’t just sit there and eat your dinner together?
I don’t buy it.
Christmas is right around the corner. Where is this sentiment for that holiday? Or for Easter? Or the Fourth of July? All of these are also family-focused holidays that no one seems to mind spending with their families.
Unfortunately, complaining about your family on Thanksgiving is becoming as much a holiday tradition as watching football.
If you cannot stand to sit with your family members that you barely see for one dinner a year, have you ever considered that you’re maybe the problem? (It’s me, hi! I’m the problem. It’s me.) Maybe stop brining up your political views with those who disagree with you. Maybe you should stop telling your older family members that their generation ruined this country. Maybe you should stop brining the party down? From what I gather on social media, it’s always younger people in my generation complaining about their families on Thanksgiving. It’s never the older aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.
There is a time and place for everything. Arguing with Aunt Gertrude about the latest political candidates during this family holiday is not the time. Eat your dinner, have a good glass of wine, and find something less polarizing to talk about with the other guests.
I promise you all: You won’t be any less “cool” if you actually like your family.