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Holiday Tension


It is T minus 10 days until Thanksgiving!  And, only 8 days until my parents arrive.  Even though I’ve been slowly prepping over the last 4 to 6 weeks, there is still so much to do!  And, I find myself feeling both excited and anxious all at the same time. 

After my parents moved away a couple years ago, I started to take over hosting Thanksgiving for my family.  I love the idea of having my family close and enjoying a few days together where we do nothing but eat too much, watch holiday movies, and play games.  That being said, I live in a small apartment.  So, while I look forward to having my family stay with me this time of year, it’s also a source of anxiety and stress.  It’s hard having 5 adults and a dog in such a small space.  Not to mention, the week of Thanksgiving is pretty much the only time I ever have guests.  I’ve gotten really used to doing things my way.  And, while I love my family dearly, it starts to feel like they’re underfoot. 

As I’ve been working through my feelings of anxiety, I notice myself finding comfort in being organized.  If I make sure to clean out the refrigerator before everyone arrives, then I should have plenty of space for everything, and then I don’t have to deal with a large cooler in my kitchen.  If I make sure to clean and make enough space for my family’s luggage and blow up mattress, then they won’t be moving things around in a way that I wish they didn’t.  Plus, the more I have on hand, the less they need to bring with them, and the less I’m going to feel like they’re moving in. 

I also recognize that I need to work on being open and honest.  I firmly believe that being honest, does not give a person a free pass to be cruel.  But, if something in bothering me, there’s no reason I shouldn’t feel comfortable speaking up. 

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