Thanksgiving Throwdown

Your family may be bringing the pumpkin pie and stuffing to the Thanksgiving table this year, but they will probably also bring the tension and conflict. For many women Thanksgiving translates into high anxiety, this according to a new survey released from iVillage that asks women what their Thanksgiving is like with family.

The poll reveals that 68 percent of women expect there to be some type of family drama at their Thanksgiving celebration before the dessert is served. It didn’t matter whether the respondent was hosting the feast or not.

Half of the women who were not hosting Thanksgiving this year responded saying that their own family would end up annoying them throughout the holiday, while 57 percent said their in-laws would be the ones responsible for causing the anxiety. Women placed most of the in-law blame on sister-in-laws and mother-in-laws. One in ten women admitted that they were actually dreading the coming holiday.

One additional cause of stress for a lot of women this year will most likely be related to the poor economy. The poll reveals that more than 40 percent of women are attempting to combat their money troubles by using coupons to pay for their Thanksgiving feast.

Do you expect there to be conflict with family members at your Thanksgiving day feast this year?

How do you deal with tension at the dinner table?

By Nillebob
11.23.10

No conflict at my family table. If there were any we would just joke it away. We are just thankful for everything that God has given us...family included!
By msfriendly
11.23.10

I am really lucky that our family gets along quite well. We usually don't have any drama at our holiday gatherings.
By LT6609
11.23.10

I was just telling my co-worker yesterday about how I was dreading the holiday because there is always subtle drama. My extended family is primarily girls who are very competitive with each other. Everyone takes little gabs at each other all day long.
By MadHatter
11.23.10

Thanksgiving is always where the "big men" try to out do each other in talking. My dad and Uncles would always talk over every one or try to argue about something that they might have absolutely no knowledge about. Which I find slightly annoying. I hope that this Thanksgiving there would be less of that and more of a family ?how is everyone doing?? time.
By CrystalBurgard
11.23.10

I am thankful I have a very small family with no drama for the holidays. We are more interested in eating a wonderful meal and enjoying each others company then spending time arguing over trivial or not so trivial things.
By tahontas09
11.27.10

I have a really small family and we dont even care about nothing but having a good meal.We just try to enjoy the spirit of the holidays and try not to worry about other stuff. Im just happy that i get t o enjoy it with my immediate family. Love thanksgiving food too.
By jh0816
11.28.10

I don't put up with it. I host Thanksgiving and if someone comes there has to be peace at my house. Just because someone is family does not mean they can act how they want. Women put so much pressure on themselves. I have cut a lot of things loose, cut down my list of things to do and just concentrate on the important things. Sometimes we do this to ourselves (stress) by trying to wear too many hats, included hats for people that are not even really us or trying to be in too many places. No matter what happens in this world, some folks still cannot get their priorities straight - they never learn no matter what crisis they go through. I learned that when I had cancer and I worked at a restaurant and there was a women screaming and crying over her pizza being a minute late and she was crying, what am I going to eat! I thought, I wish I had YOUR problem, I don't know if I will be alive this time next year. I wish I could trade with YOU.
By jh0816
11.28.10

PART TWO! I like to surround myself with people who know real priorities and unfortunately sometimes those people learned the hard way like me. Sometimes that means my family are not the closest ones to me. Some of them are ignorant of real priorities and to be honest if they go down that road, they don't come to my table anymore.
By jh0816
11.28.10

Life is short. Spend your time doing what you really love with people you really love and who love you, even if there are not as many at your table!
By mardel
11.28.10

Yes, conflict surrounds my in laws table holidays or not! I try very hard to ignore it and occupy myself with my children!

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