My extended family does not get together on Thanksgiving, and neither does my ex's. Our older daughter is in CA, and our older son and his family are Muslim and refrain from celebrating Thanksgiving. SO, it's my daughter (9), me, and her dad trying to make this day as holiday-like as possible. We have found ways to do other holidays - like going to the baby animal exhibit at the zoo every Easter - that have become new traditions. But I've not successfully come up with a "new tradition" for Thanksgiving Day, and it's a little odd cooking a big meal and stuff for the three of us. Any ideas?
And yes, the three of us are able to do family events together and have a good time. There were valid reasons for the divorce and living separately, but we regularly have family time together.
Thanks for all your suggestions! They were just what I needed to get thinking about all the options. So far, we are planning to either go to the Como Zoo/Observatory or to the Depot for ice skating. I've also decided that my daughter and I are going to make (not buy) a pie this year, and we have done Cornish game hens in the past and I found a new recipe for them that looks great! I just needed some encouragement to get in the holiday mood. Thanks again!
Make volunteering at a homeless shelter a tradition! Go serve food in the morning, and take in a nice dinner and movie in the evening :-)
My aunt and uncle and cousins always had Thanksgiving with friends. My grandparents(on my uncle's side) were always out of state for the winter and my aunt's parents lived in Greece. So they always had big get togethers with their closest friends and I was always jealous. No family drama, only spending the holiday with the ones you want to the most!
I am wondering why it is 'odd' to cook a big meal, have the Turkey, or beef or whatever simmering in the oven, having the house smell good and sitting around watching "It's a wonderful life" or something traditional. There are only three of us also, and on Sundays even when my 21 year old son had a brief time trying to live on his own (he's back) but even then we made Sunday dinners, pot roasts or chicken or whatever and played music, enjoyed the smell, and enjoyed just being together. We will still do this on Thanksgiving (an alternate visit to some relatives with mixed work schedules will have us visiting on another day and my older son is married and will see his inlaws this year in another state). I do not feel the need to race around somewhere to do something that can be so relaxing at home. There are smaller turkeys, (a whole breast is easily cooked) and besides that you aren't wasting gas money or entrance fees and can play special games or something. Or baking cookies or pies together, so much fun for us anyway, and it prompted a yearning for my son to become a chef years ago. Whatever you do, just relax and feel peaceful that you are together and have worked out a divorce situation so beautifully and that you put your daughter first. What a nice family!
I don't know if it classifies as "fun," but a co-worker got her whole family to volunteer to feed the homeless at a center for a few hours in the morning, then are going to have Thanksgiving meal at a restaurant. If you don't want to eat at a restaurant, you can roast a chicken and have a couple sides instead of a giant meal.
I also know people who go to the movies and just have a great relaxing day.
This year I'm running/walking a 5K with a bunch of friends Thanksgiving morning. We are Team Gravy! Could be something fun to do with your family - as well as burning off the calories before the big meal - and most of the runs support a charity as well.
Some friends of ours have annual Charlie Brown party where they serve everything from the special - toast, popcorn, jelly beans, pretzel sticks. You could do that the night before while watching the show or even on Thanksgiving for a snack before a more proper meal later.
When it was just going to me me and my hunny we would cook cornish game hens instead of a turkey but we did them the same way we would a turkey ... I would still do a fun "turkey day" style meal just size it down for your family's needs. Heck, I have made a turkey (small 10lb) just for me and my mom one year.
To me family are the people who love you and nurture you not necessarily the people who are related to you. You could invite some friends and neighbors in for a huge feast. You could make it a potluck, everybody brings something. If you handle the turkey, stuffing and gravy and let everyone else bring the mashed potatoes, cranberries, relish trays, beverages, deserts ect you will have a lot less leftovers but still have a great day. You could set up games or movies to watch take the kids outside to play.
I have a rule in my home NO FOOTBALL. To me when they started putting football on TV on all the holidays --- the holidays lost a lot of their magic. The men gathered in one room barely able to leave the room to eat and spend all the time yelling at the TV or playing armchair quarterback and the women doing all the cooking, clean-up, and hosting duties.
I have no good answer for you but your question has made me start thinking about what we'll be doing in a few years when we no longer share holidays with my husbands parents (when they pass on). That's the only family we've got. You're on the right path...just make new traditions but WHAT is the question. I'm anxious to see the answers you get.
Like the other idea of volunteering to feed homeless, good lesson for kids. Make it the day you get your X-mas decorations out and decorate the house. We always decorate gingerbread houses and leave it out for the whole month for X-mas, bake cookies.
1) feeding the homeless
2) giving thanks to vets or those in active duty (visit home or send care packages)
3)taking red and green slips of paper, writing thoughts of thanks and making a chain for Christmas decoration (I think I just read this one in a magazine, sounds good to me)
4) (you may find this odd) going to your local Chinatown...it's always hopping on Thanksgiving, esp the restaurants
5) maybe bake cookies, or have a big Thanksgiving breakfast
6) pray for other people as a family
*shelter to serve the homeless, i did this w/ my daughter at 9
*movies
*go to look at lights in the nearest big city
*go to a hotel / water park & swim
*invite another family over
actually you could do all of the above
Another nice thing to incorporate is volunteering at a church dinner or shelter dinner. You can either help w/ the food or sit at a table and be a greeter. This REALLY educates your daughter about the "reason for the season!"
We do our volunteering from 11-1 and then we go home and eat our family dinner. Yeah, it's a bit uncomfortable at first, trying to make small talk, etc (my girls are 5 so we are greeters) but it's so worth it and really makes you so grateful for all you have.
Being of service to others is a life lesson for your daughter and will allow her to grow in so many ways.
Have a great holiday!
Our immediate family likes to go for a hike when we all have the same day (which is not often). That makes holidays one of the days to hike.
One year we went to a brunch at a special inn on Thanksgiving for its buffet. Splendid.
Cook a smaller meal to eat.
Are there any live performances on that day in your town?
I love your Easter idea. I also like to travel south during Easter.
Serving Thanksgiving dinner at a homeless shelter was the first thing that popped into my mind too!
I also wanted to add how much I admire that you & your ex are able to do things together with your daughter - what a great gift you are giving her!!
Check out what is happening locally. I always find out later that there was a cool parade Thanksgiving morning somewhere close by. Also, check to see if you have any friends that don't have anyone to celebrate with and invite them over.
Personally, I do NOT patronize ANY stores or restaurants or places of business on Holidays. I feel those workers should be at home with their own families.
So ging off of my feelings on that, I don't see why the 3 of you can not still make a special meal, make your pie, get started on Christmas cookies, or some other fun baking adventures. Just spend time together...rent a special movie, play an active video game together and be silly, etc.
But as I said, barring the serving at a homeless shelter or other volunteer options, I do not patronize movie theaters, restaurants or stores/gas stations of ANY kind on holiday days. JMO~
