Fifty-five million Americans will travel 50 miles or more this week for Thanksgiving, according to AAA. You’ll probably either end up at a relative’s door or have relatives showing up at yours. And it will be great. Or it will be terrible. And the difference between these two options isn’t food-based, but rather performance appraisal based.
Just like a bad manager who holds back on feedback for an entire year and then springs it all on you at year-end, you Aunt Joan is waiting for you.
“You’re 27, why aren’t you married?”
“Did you put on a little weight?”
“Goodness, I see your little Billy is chasing the cat. You know, children whose mothers work outside the home don’t get the attention they need. Do you think that’s why he’s doing that?”
To keep reading, click here: Don’t Let Thanksgiving Turn into a Performance Appraisal
Would that such “performance appraisals” were the worst things we had to fear this Thanksgiving. Doesn’t just about everyone have at least one person coming that is obsessed with politics and determined to bring them up during Thanksgiving dinner, to give everyone additional cause for heartburn? There’s a reason our parents and grandparents told us to avoid discussions of religion and politics: they’re too divisive, especially in our current hyper-partisan era. Don’t fall into the trap set by America’s enemies, who seek to weaken us by manipulating us with inflammatory misinformation and fomentdivision among us. Thanksgiving is intended to focus on our blessings — the positives in our lives — not the negatives. Resist the impulse to get drawn into heated political debates, no matter how much “Crazy Uncle Henry” needs to be “set straight!” 🙂
I must respectfully disagree that a parent is the only person who can determine if something is appropriate to wear. I would say that the host also has the right to say what is appropriate to wear to dinner. Basically, my house – my rules. The host has the right to refuse someone, including other adults, entrance into their house if they feel that what someone is wearing would make the other guest uncomfortable.
If someone is wearing a racist, homophobic, misogynic, or otherwise offensive clothing, the host has the right to refuse that person from entering the house.
I admit that someone showing up in a racist sweatshirt never crossed my mind.
That is perfectly understandable. You were concentrating on other things. Offensive clothing was not your point.
For some people it’s hard to turn off “boss mode.” At least I don’t work for my parents.