ARGH!!! my parents will drive me crazy....

[La Lioness Priyanka]

Usually I host thanksgiving for my parents and very close friends. This year, my parents claimed they were going to India & so I have decided not to host since I am in Thesis Land and dont want to deal with the clean up.

However my parents just told me that they may not actually be leaving for india for thanksgiving. If they dont go, I am hosting thanksgiving. So now i cant tell my friends whether or not I can attend their dinner.

Either way, its even more complicated because its not just me. Anyone who invites me has to invite lisa, my brother and 3 of my close friends. ARGH.

[NJmaverick]

1. I never understood why people talk about the holidays being stressful

Good luck with your dilemma

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. I tell Mother about my Plan B and give her an either or proposition.

If by a certain date she has not made a decision then my plan B goes into effect. Good luck with the holidays and your parents.

[baldguy]

3. That's their job.

[Chan790]

4. It seems like ultimatum time...

tell them to make a decision or that you're going to make a decision and that they may end up eating TV dinners alone. It's mean but you can't let other people, not even family, hamstring you until the last second.

[Chan790]

5. Double posted. n/m

[Deep13]

6. Thesis comes first.

Tell them someone else has to do it, especially since they already told you they weren't going to be around.

[MissMillie]

7. Make reservations... you can always cancel them if you don't need them

clean up won't be an issue, neither will space.

[Chan790]

8. I'd be shocked if there is an available reservation in Brooklyn or Manhattan for that day. n/m

[latebloomer]

9. Probably you could get one at an ethnic restaurant where they're not serving

the traditional Thanksgiving meal.

My dad died in November and we couldn't face a traditional Thanksgiving without him so we went out for Japanese. The place was nearly empty.

[Rabrrrrrr]

19. Dude, NYC empties out on Thanksgiving - EASY to find space at restaurants.

I always loved Thanksgiving weekend! Favorite weekend of the year, just because the city was empty.

[Blue-Jay]

10. Invite everyone over for take-out tandoori chicken.

[gratuitous]

11. Drive? More like a short putt

Tell your parents that it's too late to change your plans. You'll see them at some point Thanksgiving weekend, but you simply don't have time for them on Thursday.

Then head to the liquor store.

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

12. Can your parents host Thanksgiving?

That would seem like the logical thing.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

13. no. i would be fine having it at myplace. i wish they had told me this though

so i could tell my friends i am definitely not going to their home

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

14. You're in a pickle

how much time do you have to make a definite plan? Never mind that silly question...I don't celebrate Thanksgiving over here...about a week huh?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

15. yeah. i just cancelled with my friend. told her my crew & i have to entertain my parents

bah!

[NewJeffCT]

16. You have a crew?

is that like a posse?

:P

[La Lioness Priyanka]

18. yes, but its in real life and not online

:)

[NewJeffCT]

17. How is the thesis coming?

and, sorry to hear about the confusion with your parents. When will your parents know? I mean, if you buy a last minute plane ticket to India, that's not exactly cheap and it's less than a week till Thanksgiving?

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ThomCat]

21. I hope your parents figure this out quickly.

:(

You really need to be able to plan things out more than 1 or 2 days in advance.

Unfortunately I think my holiday is going to be just as stressful as yours, but the stress is going to last longer than just the one day. :(

I'm going to be spending 2 days in a car getting hauled down to Florida. JennaLaw's mom just came out of surgery, so JennaLaw is going down there to take care of her. But she also takes care of me. I can't really take care of myself anymore. So I'm going too and she'll be burdened with both of us. :(

Hopefully I can medicate enough to handle this trip with some kind of grace and still be useful as a navigator in the passenger seat. We have to bring the dogs with us. At the very least I know I can keep the dogs occupied and out of her way, so that makes me feel a bit better about all of this.

Once we get there I am hoping I can push myself to handle most of the cooking for Thanksgiving with minimal help. The least I can do is make sure that the three of us have a good feast on Thanksgiving. It is becoming a tradition that we celebrate holidays together. This one will just be a bit more stressful than most, but hopefully we can still turn it into a holiday.

Other than that, I'm hoping I can stay out of the way and need as little care or help as possible so that JennaLaw can concentrate on helping her mom. The last thing I want is to be in the way.

In two weeks we come back and I spend another two days in the car again.

[MissMarple]

22. Be honest. You have plans...so sorry....or have plans...are you coming, or do I eat at a cafeteria?

I vote for "so sorry". But, that is just me. Take a break. You are being taken for granted. I host Thanksgiving, this year 18, and everyone is very, very, very grateful. And they help...a lot. We have fun.