Family guilt

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is 2 weeks away!

A little secret?  We haven't made ANY plans for Thanksgiving this year.  None.

Our options:

Traditionally, we cram into my mom's house for dinner with my grandparents and aunts and uncles.  She lives about 10 minutes away.  The big joke is that the turkey is always dry and there is never enough room.  The truth is, it's tradition.  That's the way I picture Thanksgiving.  I love my mom's stuffing and gravy...ooo and the chocolate cream pie for dessert.  My aunts are very loud.  No one gives thanks, no one drinks and everyone starts eating before my mom can even finish in the kitchen.  The lack of space doesn't work with my very active kids.  They will be the only ones there and will be climbing the walls.  My husband doesn't usually enjoy himself.  Honestly, sometimes I don't either, but it's tradition.  My mom will be a little hurt if we don't go.

We've also been invited to my sister in laws house.  She reads my blog, so I'll give her a quick shout out...HI!  We would love very much to spend time with that side of the family.  Honestly, the kids would have more fun.  I would be able to have a drink without being judged.  The food would lack my traditional fare, but I'm OK with that.  She lives an hour away from us and I'm not sure that my husband wants to drive around on his day off since his current commute is over an hour each way and is starting to wear on him.  They are completely OK with us coming or not coming, they just need to know either way.

Or

We could just say screw it and take the turkey my husband's new company is giving him and fry it up at home by ourselves and enjoy a nice, relaxing day at home.  Lonely, but relaxing.

We're torn.

Someday, I'd love to host Thanksgiving at my house and do it all our way, bringing together both sides of our family.  We have the space.  We're really good cooks.  Wine would be flowing and I wouldn't be the only one drinking it.  Football will be on the big screen, but there is enough space in my house that you can go to a different room if you don't want to watch.  My mom will never give up her house, so my side of the family is o-u-t.  I hate making this decision because there doesn't seem to be a good way to make everyone happy, including us.

Does anyone else have this problem?  Help me out.

Comments

[Coal Miner's Granddaughter]

Oh, Lord. This sounds like the smackdown that's about to happen with this family and Easter. My mom declared, "I want Easter. You have Thanksgiving. Tyler's parents have Christmas. I want Easter."

Well, gee, since she has an apartment that is trashed 24/7 and we don't go to church (I mean, Easter is the one holiday that truly does require a church membership, right?) Tyler's family would never come. Ugh. Why is family like this?

I say go to Aruba! But, then again, that's my answer for everything.