We saw that meme above and said, “This. Is. Us.” One minute, we’re Wanda Maximoff, laser-eyed and unhinged trying to “holiday magic” the house into perfection. The next? We’re smiling Stepford moms as guests arrive, proudly presenting the feast as if we didn’t just shove a pile of toys into a random closet and yell, “Don’t open that door!”
Pauline: The Time-Tamer (…But Make It Dutch)
Thanksgiving always used to throw me off. Why are we eating dinner at 2 p.m.? Is it a snack? Is it lunch? Is it a commitment to hibernation? This year, things were - dare I say - great? My mom flew in from the Netherlands (cue applause) and made the whole thing feel more joyful. My mother-in-law cooked a stress-free (not sure how she managed that!) dinner for 18 that started at the very respectable time of 5 pm. All grandparents jumped in with toddler management and just general good vibes. My son decorated the table and melted my heart. My daughter “read” a book by herself for most of dinner. But before you get too jealous - my daughter managed to share her gratitude every hour between 9 pm and 6 am… both Wednesday and Thursday night. Thanks, love.
Verdict: Grateful for family, annoyed by toddler sleep. Can we petition for a stress free, family filled 5 p.m. turkey slot every year?
Sarah: Not Traveling, Sous-Chef Extraordinaire.
You know what’s better than turkey? NOT traveling. No suitcases, no frantic packing of diapers, no inevitable snack-deprived meltdown at gate B12. This year was blissfully local.
This year, I didn’t host, and I am not mad about it. We headed to my mother-in-law’s house, where the food wasn’t on me, but my husband was on turkey duty. Spatchcocking a turkey is essentially playing chiropractor with a 15-pound bird. Drama was inevitable—there were knives, questionable YouTube tutorials, and about six frantic texts to a friend who “does this all the time.” But when the turkey finally hit the table? Absolute perfection. Oh, and my husband and I started The Bear together because nothing says post-Thanksgiving relaxation like watching fictional kitchen meltdowns.
Verdict: If Thanksgiving doesn’t involve airport security, I’ll take seconds (and thirds).
Emily: Small and Intimate…with more than 20 People
If you're picturing a cozy, candle-lit dinner with heartfelt toasts, let me share a different kind of magic. Our ‘small family dinner’ was actually a gathering of over 20, complete with kids joyfully zooming around like energetic little elves and dads enthusiastically ‘supervising’ the fried turkey. But amidst the lively chaos, my mother-in-law, the true hostess extraordinaire, orchestrated it all like a pro. Every detail, down to personalized touches for each of us, was so thoughtfully planned—she made sure everyone felt special.
As for me, I found a moment of peace in the kitchen, savoring a quiet sip of wine, marveling at her ability to pull it all together so seamlessly.
Was it lovely? Absolutely. Was it a whirlwind? Without a doubt.
Verdict: I adore our big family, and Thanksgiving is a perfect mix of joy, exhaustion, and awe at how my mother-in-law makes it all happen. Honestly? I wouldn’t trade it for the world
So, what are your Thanksgiving traditions? The good, the bad, and the truly exhausting? Are you Team “Could Do Without It” or Team “Can’t Live Without It”?
Tell us in the comments—and if you’re in the kitchen multitasking toddler meltdowns with gravy disasters, know that we see you, and we’re raising a glass (or maybe a sippy cup) in your honor.
Xo,
Sarah, Pauline & Emily
