There is No Place Like Home for the Holidays
This was my first Thanksgiving in years where I did not visit my extended family for dinner. When we think about relatives and how the holiday season pans out for us, we all know that dealing with extended family–or even immediate family–is dreadful at times.
Having to go from having somewhat independent status to being around a ton of family who “changed your diapers when you were this big,” can be more than overwhelming. You must answer how old you are, how tall you are, what your grades are like, and what is happening in your romantic life–I can never dodge this one. I don’t know how much longer “oh no I just have a really close friend that I hang out with a lot and all my other school friends as well,” will last.
Moreover, the bone chilling question that comes racing toward you relentlessly: “So what are you going to do with your future?” Oh goodness, take me now! Spoiler alert, when you answer that you are studying and potentially seeking out a career in the humanities, you quickly learn the difference between real and fake smiles. I didn’t think that I knew how to silence a room until I said the words “philosophy major,” out loud.
Oh. And it’s an election year. My method of simply acting like the government does not exist whenever I am around my family members works pretty well. I have mastered the art of “oh, I don’t know about that,” while conveniently needing to find a restroom, my sister, or anything else that allows me to leave the room ASAP.
Thanksgiving has come and gone, but of course it is the holiday season, so we have a lot more coming up for us. If you ever find yourself in a tough spot at a family gathering, the best thing you can do is make talk about things you know are neutral!
