Hi all, Mom, 73, degenerative disk disease in neck, lower back, mild heart valve leak, colitis, expected to cook Thanksgiving meal, (by herself, no other cooks to help), for my Stepfather, his brother, his nephew, and the nephew's new girlfriend.
She had a TIA a few years ago when my niece, her kid, and her boyfriend came for their birthdays. Guess several days of cooking, baking separate cakes, wrapping was too much. Lady up the street died making Easter dinner for her grandkids a few years ago, so I am kind of nervous about this.
They used to go out for buffet for Thanksgiving, when I lived way out of state. Then Stepfather decided he wanted left overs, got her to make him turkey breast, potatoes and gravy, pie, for him to take to work for a few days every year after guests left.
I moved here a few years ago, 3 years ago I told him I thought it was too much on her and we should go back to the buffet tradition. No go, but said just one last one. I agreed. Last year, reneged on his agreement, said he wouldn't get any left overs if we went out. I told him he knew full well she was too old, he said he'd cater it, which he did. Mom begged me to come help, and bring other things too, (I had other plans elsewhere), said she plain couldn't do it, so I caved. She was right in that they didn't have enough food from the cater purchase, was surprised how small the portions were for the cost, and I also was surprised how much work it still was for her to get all the stuff ready. I took bird, giblet gravy, potatoes, stuffing that I made at home. THAT was supposed to be the last year. This year he announced once again he'd invited everyone to their house for the dinner. I flat said NO, and I'll have no part of it, my husband and myself are going out to a buffet, (which we never have done, but I've got it by myself for 32 years when we lived in a different state and I'd like a break myself).
Have stuck to my guns hoping they'd change their mind and go out with us. No go. As a matter of fact, he went from going to cater her part again, to now she's getting it from scratch since I'm not participating, he's afraid there won't be enough left overs for him to gore for 3 days. Ugh. I am worried. I don't want her to have another stroke, or worse. Most days that I go see her for an hour in the afternoon she's on no sleep, (chronic pain keeps her awake), she's often confused and has a lot of trouble just getting a cup of coffee made from their little single serving deal they've had for years. Am I wrong? How old is "too old" for this?
Like your posts. After reading, this idea came to mind.
First, as women, many will say: "I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, 'cause I am a w o m a n!" Then, when they don't want to cook, at all, or anymore....
Then is when you stop being the hostess.
Think about it.....through the years.....hostess for 15-30 people, half were women?
It must be a rare woman who is doing all that excellent cooking, you know, the rare one who also ends up the caregiver?
Then I got together with my SIL's and we did potluck,which we've done ever since; now it's my daughters and DIL's and nieces that cook, and we've had as many as 52 people. One of my SIL's, now early 80's, hosted last year, but again, potluck. This year we had just my immediate family (19 people) at my son's house and my daughters and DILs took charge, assigned me the pumpkin pies and that's all.
When I was a kid, my dad was the chef for holidays and Sunday dinners; my brothers were also the cooks for special meals for their families. But one memory of Thanksgiving was at my dad's mother's, where we did TG as long as she lived (to 93). Once my dad saw her whipping up egg whites for her angel food cake, and told her "Mother, the house is full of women, someone can do this for you." Her answer: "It is my Privilege to make this cake!" Remarkable lady, but not many like her.
One rule at Grandmas, or our house, or holiday dinners at my family's, is that whoever cooks does NOT do the cleanup. The other side of TG at Grandma's was doing the dishes with my cousins, which was a great way for us younger ones to spend time together. But--I'm 70-something and haven't made a holiday dinner by myself in years. And all our menfolk cook.
I mean, they're not my favourite-ever food but I wouldn't go that far - !
Each person was assigned a dish to bring, commensurate with their skill levels. (I brought an amazing wild-rice/mushroom side dish with Gruyere cheese topping, and a decadent chocolate roulade from Jacques Pepin's recipe.) My nephew's dressing with apples and cranberries was awesome. The buttered, roll-up lefse disappeared moments after it was set on the buffet. There was horseradish sauce for the smoked beef, apricot sauce for the pork tenderloin roast, and, of course, gravy for the turkey. Another nephew brought a huge quantity of garlic mashed potatoes -- his annual specialty. A few of my sister's older grandchildren brought appetizers they had made. All of the food was amazing, and was made with love by people who love making it.
There were no shots (or any guns in sight), but the venison sausage gave testimony to some shooting in the past.
There are always tons of planned-over food. One of my sons bought several packages of food containers of various sizes, washed them the night before, and contributed them. We built two complete meals for persons who couldn't attend, and then packed take-out packages. (I'm working on turkey, pork, and mashed potatoes here at home. Plus a slice of pumpkin pie.)
We ate on a vintage set of stoneware dishes. My two sons washed the dishes, and silverware, and pots and pans, displacing my brother-in-law who usually does that. The younger folks brought the full platters down the stairs to the party room and back up the stairs not-so-full for the food packers and then to the dishwashers.
Two of my nephews were really interested in the pan I brought my rice in. They hefted it for weight and decided it was enameled cast aluminum. They asked what else I made in it. (Did I mention that the entire family is into food in all of its aspects?)
The most contentious discussion all day was whether cream of mushroom soup was a basic ingredient, qualifying a recipe for a "from scratch" designation.
I had a WONDERFUL holiday. I hope (and expect) that as the older generation slows down on these kinds of activities some of the next generation will take over.
Pass the gravy, please.
We all come to holidays with a different perspective, but I think it's helpful to appreciate that and create the kind of holiday WE want, or don't want.
I do want to address Lassie's comments about brainwashing as part of creating a picture perfect holiday.
I don't know how anyone (no one specific, so I'm not casting blame) can not realize that we as people and consumers have become commodities to be prodded, tricked, manipulated or just plain encouraged to spend.
Don't forget that consumer spending is one of the major components of the GNP.
And don't forget that the Internet has opened many avenues to be exploited in "encouraging" people to spend, and spend even more. That's life. I don't appreciate all this manipulation, but as an individual I have to power to "just say NO." As does everyone else.
I won't deny that the over commercialization and commoditization of personal information is a major aspect of websites in the Privacy Policies and TOS, and I avoid many sites just because of that.
But we each have a choice. I boycott some sites which others flock to and freely spill out personal information and post family photos. I don't budget for how much I'm going to spend on presents at holidays. If something is needed and at the right price I buy it. If not, I feel no obligation to spend just to conform. And no one else should either, but there seems to be some kind of "herd" mentality when it comes to holidays or posting on sites with egregious TOS and Privacy Policies.
As the old saying goes, "don't get mad, get even." I'm not suggesting retribution, but if you don't like the atmosphere surrounding holidays, just don't accept it. Boycott. Create your own holidays, or just don't celebrate them at all.
I like celebrating Chinese New Year and/or Mardi Gras and/or Cinco de Mayo or anything I can create a food theme for. Hardly ever have to deal with scheduling conflicts with in-law families.
1. I assume there are some PBS fans, and some who watched the Mr. Selfridge series? Remember how he revolutionized spending?
In the first episode if I remember correctly, an introductory scene was the attempt to see what a retailer had available. The very proper and correct salesman only brought out what HE thought the purchaser might want. There was no opportunity for the purchaser to wander through the store and decide what he/she might want. Choices were limited. Impulse spending, if even existent, was limited.
Selfridge revolutionized that and used gimmicks to bring more people in.
2. Back in 1991 I took some French classes to compliment those taken in high school. Our prof told us that French retailers were regulated, that sales could only happen as the government dictated. I don't recall if it was one sale annually, or semi-annually, but it was a shock to learn that sales didn't occur weekly, or almost constantly as here in America.
Their government was obviously different, but that limitation on sales limited retailers', manufacturers' and importers' sales, and thus limited government revenue from taxes.
I think there is some dysfunction in every family, but, our holiday gatherings generally turn out pretty well. We all get along and seem to have a good time at the gathering. This year almost everyone stayed for about 6 hours! So, I think they enjoyed themselves. And my parents eat this up.
This year was a little funny though. My mom, who is 76, insisted that she cook it all, but, with a couple of others bringing a dish or two, but, she did ASK a few of the ladies to arrive an hour early in order to help set up. LOL Well, I started helping 3 hours in advance, but, it was just me and mom. NO others showed up early. In fact, they all arrived about the same time and that was about 45 minutes late. lol Don't you just love family! lol
No disrespect intended! I envy you and your family!
Most of my thanksgiving holiday - from childhood until last year mainly fell in the crap category.
This year - since hubby had to work -as he has for the vast majority of our twenty holiday seasons together- I decided to just stay home with Rainman and experiment with a new cooking technique for turkey.
Alas - the turkey didn’t turn out quite as good as I had hoped for - but it’s still eatable. So - turkey sandwiches and other leftover creations for the next few days.
Not exciting but I’ll take it over the years of eating over cooked under seasoned mush I had to eat at the various Old Folks Homes or the forty-plus years of family dysfunctional drama before that.
Bon Appetit’!
I have more consistent luck with people helping cleanup after the event.
If you work something out, will you share it? (big grin as I await someone else's hard work being shared)
For a Martha recipe it was pretty easy - no fancy carmelizing and such. It wasn’t all I had hoped for but I think cooking the bird at 425 degrees might have been part of the problem. A slower, lower heat probably would have allowed the flavors to build and mingle better.
But yeah - still on the lookout for a recipe that uses apples as well. So jeannegibbs, if you’ve got one and feel like sharing...
lol! I won't have to worry about a thing except indigestion ;-D
We were expecting a couple of people to join us but it didn't work out. I found that out only hours before cooking. (Grrrrr) So, I made everything that I'd planned anyway.
I learned a long time ago that the "easy" foods, (like canned sweet potatoes or packaged stuffing) is much better when it's doctored up to be more like homemade. Mash the sweet potatoes with butter, cinnamon, salt and top with baby marshmallows and it's just as good as roasting them in the oven and peeling and scooping. For stuffing, add some turkey drippings, sautéed onion, chestnuts, celery and sausage to a StoveTop stuffing box and it's great. Store or bakery bought pies can be reheated to crisp up the crust and saves hours. Most folks like the breast meat so I buy only a breast and bake it. I throw some pan drippings into a turkey gravy packet, open a can of cranberries and add a tablespoon of orange juice and a few orange peel shavings and heat up some Kings Hawaiian rolls. Easy (more or less) TG dinner.
I guess most people enjoy those grocery store meal packages. I find them just as much work to transfer all the food to heating dishes or casseroles than it was worth. Costs a lot more too.
Tomorrow is my 3rd day of turkey sandwiches. I think I could eat a (real roasted) turkey sandwich every day of the year.
My MIL had us for Thanksgiving every year (about 10 years of our marriage) until my FIL announced one year that she wasn't up to it anymore. She was around 65. Then it became my job for the next 20 years. No help from ex-husband. We were both only kids and our son is a vegetarian so the dinner group was pretty small.
I continued the TG meal tradition when I married my Mexican husband. (Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Mexico.) I had my husband's family (18 of them) over and cooked 2 turkeys and a ham! The oven was going for 12 hours straight. Never again!! No help before or after.
Being an only kid, I was so excited to be in a big family. Well, it ain't what it's cracked up to be. One brother's family doesn't talk to my husband and me , another brother won't socialize with anybody, SIL gets drunk and mad, then pushes pregnant niece and nieces husband beats her up, other sister is outcast because nobody likes her husband (he IS a pig) so they don't attend any festivity, other sister and BIL drink way too much and get too loud.
Makes me thankful that Thanksgiving is not a Mexican holiday. We have learned to avoid Christmas too. So much for a big family.
Some excellent suggestions were bandied about. For next year, of course. With all hinging on how much change Mom (who seems to be cowed by stepdad) and Stepdad (a card-carrying jerk AND bully) can handle.
One size does not fit all!
And some elders are determined to self-destruct — right before their adult children’s eyes.
These years are tricky and stressful. Witnessing parental decline creates a unique despair.
Thinking of you, New2This. Come back and give us an update.
My mother said last Christmas that she wasn't coming to my house anymore. It's too hard for her to walk over part of my lawn. So last week I asked her if she was coming for Thanksgiving, or if she wanted us to bring her a plate (like we did last Thanksgiving, because she'd hyperextended her knee and was in pain). She wanted to know if we'd be done before dark, and I said I didn't think so. I'm not totally moving my Thanksgiving dinner time just for her.
And I'm glad she didn't come over. When we brought her a plate (plus leftover turkey plus half a loaf of pumpkin bread), the first thing she wanted to know was if my older son "embarrassed himself." Everyone just looked at her (although I knew what she was going to say because she's complained about him plenty of times), and she wanted to know if he had seconds and thirds. My older son is overweight (he's made great progress in the past year in losing weight). And then asked AGAIN later on. She also spent time complaining about her neck (of course she didn't complain in her Thanksgiving showtiming performance on the phone to my brothers), the prescription mail-order place, etc.
I'm so glad she didn't come over for dinner! I'm not going to put up with her talking to/about my son like that. Christmas dinner will be (or at least end) after dark, also, and we won't miss her. I think my brothers are bothered that she's alone, but if they cared so much they could get down here and make dinner for her in her condo. (Before anyone asks, that is not a possibility for me, because she is obsessive about how one does things, etc. She can't relinquish any sort of control, at least to me.)
I'll help anyone, all they need to do is just ask. I won't be bullied. But it really does come down to Mom letting him. For what reasons, I don't understand. Maybe her own pride? Maybe a feeling of obligation? Maybe because she is just so used to giving in and letting him have his way with everything that it has become natural to her? I don't know, but it was her decision to make.
Mom survived it, imagine she'll be in serious pain for a week. DH and I stayed home, there's no way I'd go and not contribute, and wasn't being forced into several days labor again. After 32 years of it, I paid my dues. I'm 52, I look 42, am tall and slim and lots of muscle. Was just always built that way. I look like I am pretty fit, but, I have UC, the extra intestinal manifestations of it as well, it attacks my eyes and joints just out of nowhere sometimes. B-12 deficiency can make my feet/lower legs numb, couple that with the knees and hands and wrist feeling like they are being stabbed by little skewer, the massive L4/L5 disc rupture that took out some lower right quadrant nerves permanently prior to surgery, the permanent 15 LB lift limit the neurosurgeon placed on me, I'm probably not the best candidate for "work horse". Bad part is it's not possible to "guess" when I will feel reasonable, or not. Had all of that in hyperdrive at same time sadly last year, right when I had to do all that, but Mamma had asked, she needed help, so I pushed through, put on brave face, honored her. This one was completely different though.
Thank you guys for sharing, helping me. I am "an only" now, only Sister died a few years ago. She was ill, supposed to have 3 to 5 years, that is why I left my home and city and business, of 32 years and moved back here. To help her. She died 6 weeks after they had given her the 3 to 5 years, and we moved into our new home here. Real Father, world traveler, self employed hard hitter, friend of the court in many famous cases by invitation came down with Parkinson's and it has hit hard. He can't travel at all anymore. Doesn't think as before either, has lots of trouble even with phone calls. It's an 18 hour drive one way to see him. I've done it a few times, will go again in spring. Guess things just change, and we just gotta roll with it.