How I avoided my crazy relatives this Thanksgiving.....

[madeline_con]

I stayed away from my mother and brother. We went to my in-laws, ate too much, then we all palyed bingo for prizes. I had a great time. I had been dreading the day, thinking I'd feel guilty, but so far, it's been one of the most peaceful holidays I've enjoyed in years.

I'm going to try the same technique to make Christmas a season of peace. O8)

[roody]

1. Good idea. Life is short. Spend it doing what you love or like.

[Indiana_Dem]

2. I did the same type of thing.

--only my husband and my aunt got into a fight in July and my side and her side haven't spoken to one another since then so we just didn't invite that side except for my mother. It was fewer people to try to serve and the gathering was less chaotic. It was pretty nice. Our side also all went out to eat, bowling & drinking the night before so we had a fun time!

[murielm99]

3. That sounds good to me.

I had to visit my parents sometime during the holidays,so I went last week, before Thanksgiving. My mother made the day miserable, and I ended up leaving early. She is a bully and a fundie, and I believe she is mentally ill. I stood up to her, so now she is not speaking to me. As far as I am concerned, that is the most wonderful Christmas present she could give me.

She has been calling my children about three times a day, because she wants to plan some horror of a holiday get-together. They are not answering her calls.

Today, my husband and I got together with our two girls at the oldest girl's house in Madison. My son went with his girlfriend to see her family in Ohio.

We all had such a good time today. We avoided the family troublemakers and came home happy and relaxed.

I am going to do the same thing you are doing at Christmas. I agree with you that peaceful holidays are fun. We both might live longer, too, with the reduced stress! :thumbsup:

[sandnsea]

4. Bingo for prizes?

That sounds like fun. Does everybody bring one, or how exactly does that work. We play a gag game where you pick a wrapped gift, and then trade it or keep it. But your bingo game sounds like fun too. I don't have any crazy relatives that live close by, and discourage any of them from moving anywhere near me - it's a HORRIBLE place to live, the worst, honest! lol. Happy Thanksgiving!

[Maat]

5. It was my 50th birthday, so I made sure I was around nice people.

My husband, my kid and I went to Las Vegas, and we were joined by my sister, her husband, and my niece. We had a lot of fun! Fortunately, my in-laws (the entire family besides us) all moved to Oklahoma several years back; so, no interaction with rightwingers or crazy fundamentalists.

[Swamp Rat]

6. Happy Thanksgiving

:hi:

[47of74]

7. I don't really have that problem

Fortunately, I don't really have that problem. Just lucky, I guess.