Sooooo I was talking to my friend, Mike, about Thanksgiving.
Casually I mentioned I was contemplating tonight’s blog post.
I told him I could either do a post like every other blogger on the planet today…aka what to wear to dinner, what to bring to dinner, happy Thanksgiving dear reader post, OR I could talk about the actual dinner itself.
He told me I had to talk about family dynamic…& his advice was golden. Laugh out loud, weirdest, coolest advice kind of golden.
Mike said, quote on quote:
Family dynamics at Thanksgiving:
HOW TO DEAL WITH THE:
TALKER— they monopolize your time by telling you EVERYTHING they have done since they saw you.
HONEY DO-ER, or HEYYY SWEETIE— they turn you into their personal assistant. Soon enough you’ll be dicing onions for stuffing. Fun times when all you want to do is relax.
THE TED-TALKER— they need a microphone to lecture you about what you need to do. From the dangers of too much plastic, over exercising, what lipstick color suits your skin tone, or how you should vote.
( GUYS I AM THE TED-TALKER, PLZ DONT SHOOT ME BECAUSE AFTER A GLASS & A HALF OF CHAMPAGNE I’M FUN ).
Then Mike gave the following advice:
Family dynamics Thanksgiving part 2.
Loving your family who might bug you a little takes a plan of action:
Bring a small gift for as many people as you can.
SMALL GIFT!!!
Go to a health food store & find gifts under $5 like–
+ Aromatherapy scents
+ Incense
+ Natural soap
+ A sample moisturizer
+ Exotic olives
…ANYTHING to bring an instant smile to your encounter. Keep it inexpensive but unique.
Give out your gifts quickly….
& THEN FIND THE QUIETEST PERSON IN THE ROOM.
( They usually are the smartest ).
Get a drink for them, find a quiet corner, & have them tell you about the milestones in their life: college, best job, best vacation….just get them talking!!!
You’ve kept your sanity, & soon it’s time to eat and you’re not overwhelmed or worn out from your very ‘loving’ family!!!!
AKA PASS THE WINE, THX.
Gotta love family dynamic…Mike may have picked this shit up from a book? I don’t know. But it’s funny as hell & fits in real nice on The Skinny Confidential.
Anything else to add to Mike’s list guys? Add away! Lol.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! xxL
Scroll & shop:
I love the idea of choosing the quietest person in the room to talk to!
THE TED TALKER OMG. These are bang-on archetypes. It’s such a delicate thing to structure conversation to be inclusive.
xoxo
Dana
Creator of The X Class – A Success Blog
http://www.thexclass.com
I thought of my last thanksgiving ( honestly I’m all of these people too). Wine!!!! And listening are my goals today….? And thanks!!!
Oh my gosh Lauryn, I love this post so much. Great idea! Thanks for sharing. Your friend Mike is very wise 🙂
This is the first Thanksgiving I have spent without family. Truthfully, just be THANKFUL they are in your life and you have them. As hard as it is to be around them at times, the family Thanksgivings are the ones you will treasure the most! Cheers to the Fam!
Oh my gah! Haha
Our family dynamic is all of these things and like twenty more which always makes things extra interesting. It’s fun and all but I’m always immediately SUPER happy to throw on pajamas and get in bed after all the festivities #mentalbreak
This is so fun… and so true! I love all the different family dynamics. And you’re so right… the quiet ones are the ones to talk to!! 🙂 Hope that you had a Happy Thanksgiving!
Haha this was hilarious and so true! I am the TedTalker and always have to remind myself to shut my trap lol.
Your friend Mike sounds like a Thanksgiving pro! This year is actually my first Thanksgiving EVER as I’m heading from London to California this Friday. Not sure yet what my plans are, but I’m hoping the friends I’m visiting have got something planned as I’m pretty excited to finally experience this. Love the idea of small gifts, will definitely apply that. Teffy x