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I've been kind of jealous of all the posts about family and togetherness and general happy-talk about Thanksgiving. My husband, a professional firefighter, works a 24-hour shift today. I'm trying to decide between wearing my Grumpypants or my Thanksgiving pants today. I'm trying to pull on the Thanksgiving pants one leg at a time, and -- thankfully -- I'm getting a little help from others around the blogosphere.
I'm finding some solace in Thanksgivings past. Last year we had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family. In fact, due to the Leap Year in 2008, he had Thanksgiving and Christmas off for the past three years. That means he was present for the day before our youngest arrived (yes, I went into labor the day after Thanksgiving), his first Thanksgiving and last year. I am thankful for those memories.
Last Thanksgiving we were together.
Quite honestly, this holiday is even more difficult than most years. Not only am I spending the day without my (very, very helpful) husband and not only do I have to spend the day with his family, but I have to miss Thanksgiving with my family back in Pennsylvania. This is the first Thanksgiving since Grandpa passed away. He was there last year, and I just can't believe he's not there this year.
Grandpa was sitting at the head of the Big Kids' Table. I got to sit at the kids' table with my family.
All the same, I'm not the only one nursing some sad feelings this Thanksgiving. It can be a difficult holiday for those who are separated -- whether temporarily due to work schedules or traveling distance or permanently due to death. As the holiday has approached, people have been blogging about their predicaments. Some of them are about how to handle timing of meals and other logistical issues, while others are fond recollections of Thanksgivings past.
Another firefighter wife talks about how her husband is working again this year and how that affects what she does with her own family. Technically, she's ending up with three Thanksgiving meals, which doesn't sound half bad! I loved her recollection of what a "holiday meal" should be.
It’s just not a holiday without 2 uncles and their wives, an aunt, grandparents, 11 cousins ... at least 20 people. Grandpa used to set up a BIG table with saw horses and plywood.
Ahhhh ... the memories...
ArmyWife101 wrote a helpful post entitled "6 Tips to Cope With the Holidays During a Deployment." She shared some great tips for all of us, but especially those military spouses who might be living through their first deployment holiday season. Alone. I liked this tip.
If you are actually looking to be social on Thanksgiving or Christmas then grab that one friend whose spouse is deployed also, plan a small menu and each cook a few dishes. Let the kids play and enjoy hanging with someone else also in the same situation.
Over at Ammo in the Dryer, one cop's wife talks about how they make holidays work. Her post is sort of a lesson in "best laid plans," especially as they relate to families who have someone in a field such as police work. She maintains a positive tone though.
I have come to accept that T-rex will not get to be home for
everyany holiday. But I still have my way of doing things and I like them that way. For instance on Thanksgiving my side of the family all gets together. It is our one big holiday and it means a lot to me and my mom.
Mama Schell's husband works on Thanksgiving. She doesn't know what to do about the actual meal.
Now though my little one is three and I think that it is time to start setting some family traditions of our own ... but the question is what to do? Cook the meal all by myself on Thanksgiving or do it the next day that my husband has the day off so that we can do the whole shebang together? Uggghhh ... I am so perplexed! What should I do?
In case you're needing a little perspective, please read Pvt. Heath's Dad's post about Thanksgiving week 2006. I issue a Tissue Warning with this post, but I think it's a must read.
As I reached the bottom of the stairs Melissa was crying and saying the Marines were
