It's rare that you get to see your closest people in one place, so whenever such an opportunity arises, we yearn to make the most of it. But then your sibling complains there's no green bean casserole this year, your aunt starts questioning your relationship status, and after your dad brings up politics, disappointment sneaks in, making these letdowns the highlights of your time together.
But in order to remind ourselves that there's no such thing as a perfect family gathering, let's take a look at one Reddit post. Through this platform, user Badshark1352 invited everyone to share the juiciest Thanksgiving stories they have. Its comment section is full of memorable experiences, proving that life really can be stranger than fiction. Hopefully, they can allow you to see some normality in the chaos!
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Not as juicy or dysfunctional as everyone's here but it's kinda sweet so I'll share.
My girlfriend and my parents met for the first time, so it was a combination of families celebrating. My parents hardly speak English (we're Vietnamese), her parents hardly speak Vietnamese (they're white).
BUT, her family loved my mum's cooking, our parents were able to somehow chat and have a 3 hours long conversation in broken English, and I got to play GTA V with her nieces and nephews, and her brother (who will be my brother in law).
AND when everyone was leaving, my parents and her parents took photos together :') it was so cute you guys.
Now THIS is a juicy Thanksgiving dinner drama that we want to hear about! Well done! 😘 🥰
Not drama, but the big convo this year was my dad revealed he secretly quit smoking in April of this year. He smoked for 60 years.
Stress is linked to a number of harmful side effects, such as worse sleep and increased skin problems. However, with Thanksgiving and the approaching holiday season, it can feel almost unavoidable.
So we contacted psychiatrist and author Pamela Cantor, M.D., to talk about managing it. "The holidays can be reminders of someone we have loved and lost, and of physical distance from family and friends," Cantor told Bored Panda.
"They can also be times for taking stock of our careers and relationships, of what feels like success, or where we may be falling short. And anyone traveling during the holidays knows that dealing with traffic, bad weather, or jam-packed planes, trains, and buses can be very stressful!"
My stepdaughter's boyfriend moved in with up last year because his mom is a piece of s**t. She left his dad and shacked up with a boyfriend who didn't like him. So he came to us and has been here since. She attempted to maintain a decent relationship for a while. Left the guy. Got a good job to take care of his two younger siblings. This is while my husband and I have been dealing with the fallout of her lack of common sense coming out through him. ( He is a great kid, but has serious knowledge gaps, like oil changes and taxes) So in October she met her 4th love of her life so far this year. She tried pretending that her driving ten hours to Louisiana wasn't for romance, they were good friends. So she then abandoned her younger son (15) and took her daughter (14) to Louisiana to live with this guy and his son. Now she's back for the holiday and is flipping s**t that her son's would rather be at my house instead of where she is staying. Even going so far as having the daughter call sobbing asking them why they love us more then their real family. And her calling me and my stepdaughter trying to get us to convince them. Hard no. You don't abandon your teenagers for random a*s men after demolishing the only home they knew and then expect them to just welcome you whenever you feel like playing mom. He's 18 but guess what, he's a part of a household of which I'm in charge. You lost your power here by being a s****y human.
We planned for six (including my wife and I) to attend. We host and it's always a pleasant time. Thanksgiving is my favorite because it's just about family and food.
Unfortunately my uncle's dementia has really kicked off over the last few weeks and due to various reasons we simply ended up cooking then delivering that food to multiple locations to support a family bring crushed by one of the most horrendous diseases I've ever witnessed.
F**k dementia. F**k the VA. F**k the US "healthcare system". F**k social services. Just f**k it all.
I feel for you. Your frustration comes across loud and clear...and it's understandable.
In 2022, the drivers of stress for this time of year included worries like affording holiday gifts (50%) and meals (39%) as well as finding and securing holiday gifts (37%). But while we're running from one store to the other, it can be a good idea to take a break, spend some time with yourself, and forget about material possessions.
"Show gratitude and practice altruism," Cantor, who studies how we develop, learn, and reach our potential and can help others reach theirs, suggested. "Take a few moments to think about, maybe even write down, what you are most thankful for. It could be your health, a roof over your head, or friends you take walks with."
"Then choose something to do for someone else. Prepare a meal and deliver it to someone living alone, bring warm coats or toiletries to people in need, or make a donation to a cause you believe in. Doing these things reduces stress and boosts mood," the physician explained.
My grandma got a new wig (short brown bob) and now bares a striking resemblance to Uncle Fester in Addams Family Values.
Well, my ex wife called me. Asked if she could talk to me about something. One of her male coworkers was on a dating site and saw my girlfriend’s profile. I didn’t know and later today I get to have a conversation with her and let her know I have screenshots and she is now my ex girlfriend. The kicker? I caught my ex wife (of just over 20 years) cheating the day after thanksgiving last year. I hate this f*****g holiday.
One year after announcing the ending of my engagement to a man, I’ve announced I’m gay and very in love with a wonderful woman. My Catholic family is less than enthused…
Got into a verbal fight with my grandma because she wants grandkids and tried to ship me with my 2nd cousin (last time we met was when I eight). Tried to tell her she was making her and I uncomfortable with her creepy remarks (“you two would make beautiful children”) and then it spiraled into implying I was gay because I wasn’t into my cousin.
Sister-in-law revealed to her ultra conservative Christian parents that she's part of a throuple less than 6 months after she separated from her husband. Wife and I are sitting back and watching the drama unfold.
Was planning on my mother, my brother and his wife for dinner with my family. It’s our first Thanksgiving in our new house. My brother’s house is tiny (no dining room and 1 couch) and we are a family of 5 so can’t fit. My mother is a hoarder and there’s no place to even sit in her house. My brother decided he couldn’t leave his house, SIL stayed with him. Mother decided to go to their house. I have spent a ton on food, my wife spent the last two days cooking and I spent the days cleaning. Now I have a ton of food and I am left with the realization I am only good to fix all the stuff that breaks around their houses.
So you received some very important information abut your family, ended up with a clean house, and now have enough food for a week. Sounds like this was a big win for you.
My mom walked in and started, "You look frumpy, OP." So I went up and changed into a full suit and tiara. My mom somehow did not catch on but my brother and his wife pulled me into the other room so they could laugh their a**es off.
My dad says I’m fat, and need to get in shape.
I’m 45, middle age *is* hitting me. But I weight within about 10 lbs of what I did in high school, and ran a half marathon this morning. I work out nearly every day, lifting and running. Also, he actually is about 80 lbs overweight, diabetic, and riddled with health problems.
Nothing like reminding me of that one right as the turkey comes out of the oven.
Tell your dad to eff off and stop having Thanksgiving with him. I'm stressed out just reading this - can't imagine what it's like to be there.
We did winco house brand vs stove top stuffing blind taste test and winco $.89 a box stuffing was like hands down waaaaaay better than the national brand. Things get pretty wild around here.
Where can we buy the WinCo house brand, please? Have never heard of it before today.
I found out my aunt had a stroke a month ago and instead of going to the doctor she decided to pray on it. She now is in rehab because she has no function of the entire left side of her body. Love that catholic Hispanic logic.
Hey, even the Pope sees a doctor. Twelve in fact in 2021, when he had his colon op.
My dad decided to explain to the whole table that happiness is a choice and that how we feel about “bad” things that happen is just opinion.
So my step daughter asked if he meant that the day her brother died was only a bad day “In her opinion”.
He said yes.
My wife (mother of the deceased) was sitting right there.
I think we were all too shocked to know how to respond, but we won’t be getting together with my parents again. I keep wondering if this is really the same guy who raised me or if something happened along the way.
My fiancés mother pulled me aside and essentially told me that the reason she’s been so cold towards me is that she feels I’m an inadequate partner for her daughter.
Her daughter who is a stay at home mom because I bust my a*s working to pay for everything we have. Who, upon hearing what her mother said, burst out laughing.
Definitely not any issues between my lady and I but it does suck to know your future MIL thinks poorly of you.
Why do people continue to have meals with people who treat them so poorly?
Dog jumped on the table and ate a turkey leg.
Edit: she jumped up again and licked the butter. Dachshunds are sneaky when people don’t push in their chairs.
Is it just me or are like 90% of Dachshunds little naughty munchkins. Love the breed but it feels like Dachshund owners rarely feel the need to train them. Which is insane considering they they were bred for hunting. Yes they are small but they really do need to be trained otherwise it's chaos. If you don't train them; they will bark constantly, destroy things, steal things, and nip other dogs and children. I've met wonderfully trained ones, but most are little devils - and I blame owners.
My 70-something aunt who has dementia began taking off her clothes just as my uncle began the blessing before the meal.
Bless her heart. Hope someone had the decency to help her rather than humiliate her.
My mom admitted, in front of two random people she invited for the meal, that she wants my kid to call her mom. And basically chose her grandparent name to get as close to it as humanly possible. When she asked me why my kid couldn't call her mom, I told her because she isn't my kid's mom, I am. And I looked at her like her head sprouted dild*s. The awkward silence for the next few seconds was great, let me tell you. /s
My sister brought her foster pup over. The pup bolted out the door and we chased her all over the neighborhood until it got dark. She's still out there somewhere, and we're worried about the coyotes and cold. I wish the drama was more about a rude guest or racist uncle. 😕
My cousin was recently converted into being a flat earther and wanted to argue with people.
Why do people allow crazy people to dine with them just because they share some genetic material?
Plumbing went haywire with water shooting out of the toilets. Very nice plumber came and found a blockage - it was a condom. For a variety of reasons, it can’t be anyone who is here visiting - and the house has been empty all summer as my father has been quite ill. So we are all trying to figure out who was using his house as a secret sex den and was also stupid enough to flush condoms down the toilet.
My relatives are arguing over my great aunt’s estate.
I couldn’t care less, but everyone else is fighting with the family member who served as the executor to the estate.
My grandma is also being scammed by someone she thinks is an army general. She is constantly fighting with my aunts and uncles about whether or not he’s real, and why it’s okay to send him a grand at a time when she has it.
I stayed away from that mess this year.
I'm prepared for some hell when my mom dies. My oldest brother is a selfish prick always saying he deserves this or that because he's the oldest. Luckily after having everything of my dad's taken by a literal evil step mother I really don't care about that material c**p
They’re probably talking about it being the third year in a row that I didn’t come. It’s the type of family where if you don’t show up for thanksgiving (or any other major holiday) you better be on your death bed or worse. I don’t care for spending my whole day being uncomfortable around judgmental people, so I just don’t.
I am just glad we don't celebrate thanksgiving. It sounds like an excuse for drama and bad behaviour.
My partner’s aunt made a huge stink that the cranberry sauce had to be this specific kind from a can. And no, it couldn’t be that same brand of cranberry sauce that had been purchased because said can had actual fruit in it. Partner’s dad had to hurry to the grocery store to buy the “right” one.
Only after the meal was over did anyone notice that neither cranberry sauce had actually been put out for dinner.
Doesn't auntie have a way to get to the store herself? Why do people coddle people who are this rude?
my girlfriend's parents found out that we've been dating (we hid it for almost a year) and now they've taken all forms of communication away from her are pulling her out of school and wont let her leave the house because they're religious nuts and i'm not a member of her parents religion. there's nothing i can do about it either so i'm laying in my bed contemplating driving over there and busting her out and then remembering how much worse that would make everything.
I've been asked when I'm going to get pregnant and have babies, asked if I'm still on birth control, and asked why I'm so pale and told I should go get a tan.
So it's pretty standard.
Why . . . do . . . people . . . submit . . . to . . . this . . . stupidity? 😳 😵 😖
My kid told her cousin Santa wasn’t real. All hell has broken loose.
I still remember my sister telling me, I have never seen my mum lose her temper to that degree, before or since.
My whole family decided to go on vacation for Thanksgiving. They neglected to tell me until yesterday. They were like oh hey we are going to New Orleans and your sister and her family are going to Disney. Which means you get to spend Thanksgiving alone. Oh I'm so blessed....
After reading about these other families, you appear to be the lucky one.
My wife and I grew up very conservative and religious and we were outed as swingers and that our "best friends" were actually our polyamorous partners. We weren't ready for that but to their credit, both of our families (it spread very quickly) have caused very little drama.
As long as it's legal and everyone is a consenting adult, it shouldn't be anyone else's business.
Mother-in-law's artificial hip popped out of joint. The last 2 times this happened they had to surgically repair it. This time the doc got it back in place and she is able to drive and go home. Told my wife she needs to buy a lotto ticket because our luck is never that good.
I walk away from all drama just got back to the hotel in fffn shock. The house exploded in a fight. Nephew high as a kite told cousin he screwed her HS Boyfriend. I am 60 years old but Cringeworthy I am going to watch football. My wife is freaking out
Correctest answer here. Always show up with a property prepared ejector seat. If drama starts, push the red button.
Not drama per se, but I told my Mom that this is the last year I’ll be attending Thanksgiving and Christmas with the extended family. Not because I don’t like them; I’m truly blessed to have the family that I do. I told her I’m proposing to my girlfriend next month and want to get more involved with her family and start building our life together. She’s sad, but thinks it’s really sweet. I’m excited to see them for Christmas in a month, but honestly even more excited to ask the love of my life to marry me and start our own chapter! My mom is passing down her ring to me to use, so I think the sentiment is really cool. Waiting until my late 20’s was the perfect move. Today was a great day overall. Good food, good people, no drama whatsoever. Today I truly feel happy. :)
I'm having an argument over whether to watch the 49ers Seahawks football game, or the Michigan Stanford basketball game. It's getting pretty heated, but since I'm here by myself, I figure I can compromise and flip back and forth between the two of them.
My family all think that I’m fat and need to diet. I’m getting married hopefully in 2025, and today my grandma and parents chimed in that I used to be so pretty, but that I’ve let myself go these last few years. I really need to diet.
I think diets are unhealthy, and that I just need to be more mindful of what I eat. But oh, no, that won’t do. I need to buy special food and cut everything out. They know I’ve been trying to work on my weight. But I guess my efforts haven’t been good enough. It was humiliating.
Good Lord, people, why do you go home when you are treated like this?
My uncle introduced me and my brother as his oriental nephews.
Well I and the rest of the family learned that my step-aunt has throat cancer that spread to her brain, so there’s that.
My cousin's wearing a MAGA sweatshirt and it's taking all my willpower not to take the bait.
Last night, i found out that my partner is using some very heavy drugs & I'm unsure how to confront him about it.
Also, we're long-distance, so he's happily enjoying the holiday with his family while I'm hundreds of miles away from mine & kind of losing my mind about this new discovery.
But I have delicious crab bisque to eat, so I'm thankful for that today.
I'm a metrosexual because I cooked our turkey and am a good dad according to my MIL (think she called me gay?).
That's a compliment. Means you're a man who can manage to think as a woman when needed or vice versa if you were a woman. My husband is one, but I'm not.
Nothing serious.. We're celebrating Saturday and Grandma (90) is concerned about the turkey being spatchcocked, because it cooks in only 2 hours and she's used to waking up at 2AM to start it cooking to be ready by noon. Hers is normally extremely greasy on the bottom and dried out in the breasts. She is unsure if this way will taste as good, but she was very sweet to being open to let us try it this way.
I was mildly irritated by catching her licking the spoon multiple times while scooping mashed potatoes from the mixer into a bowl (she didn't realize anyone was in the room bc she can't hear anymore), but I didn't say anything cuz I love her and I didn't want to hurt her feelings 😕
She has been doing this for years and this is the one time you caught her. You and others in the family have been ingesting her DNA for years. You're still living or you wouldn't have been able to tell Bored Panda this story. The woman has got some longevity on her and you do now, also.
My mom can’t accept that my siblings and I have gone NC with our dad, who is an addict (allegedly he’s a couple weeks clean atm). She’s tried to guilt us into talking to him “because it’s Thanksgiving and it would encourage him” if we could call and talk to him. But sorry mom, that’s not what NC means.
The power went out at my mom's house 20 degrees before the turkey was done cooking. We kept the oven shut, and it kept cooking. The breast got to temp, but the thighs and other dark meat didn't. My parents have a solar battery that had enough power for the microwave, so we microwaved the candied yams and reheated the stuffing in there (it was... Ok lol). We couldn't postpone dinner because several people had a second thanksgiving to get to later, and one aunt had to leave before dark. Thankfully the power came back on right as we were sitting down to eat, because my legally blind grandma wouldn't stop complaining about how dark it was. Could have been worse, but it was stressful for a hot minute.
One Easter my oven blew up just as I started the pork for a 24hr roast. I cooked dinner for six using a slow cooker and a frying pan. It turned out OK considering how badly it could have gone.
I have a cousin who’s been getting a bit too close to another cousin every time we have our biannual family thanksgiving reunion. They’ve caught them in a closet a few times and she always runs off with him. The guy cousin, here’s the kicker, has like 5 duis right now. So while obviously we are worried about the odd incest going on, the best way to get her away from her own cousin is to keep bringing up he has duis so she shouldn’t go alone with him in a car.
My SIL who claims to not be drinking showed up with liquor in her water bottle and got belligerent.
Many alcoholics go through a phase where they think they can hide it. Pointing it out likely won't yield results, they'll lie and deny. They have to find bottom before they're willing to get help.
My father wouldn't come to the table to eat, because my mother criticized his gravy. Had to play moderator to some grown adults so they could sit down to eat and be civil humans.
My cousin announced he was a wear-wolf. Like full on…wear-wolf gloves and all. No joke.
I found out those mashed potatoes my uncle had been making by hand all these years are actually store bought.
My dog rolled around in raw sewage that had leaked from my wife's aunt's septic tank.
Now how does sewage leak from a septic tank anyhow? A septic tank is enclosed and buried under the ground. When my septic system acted up before needing to be replaced, it caused a nasty back up in the basement shower.
My neighbor’s son was stabbed in jail cause he won a game of dominoes and the other guy got mad.
Note: this post originally had 79 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
By my estimate, at least half of BoredPanda is full of stories of dysfunctional familes and relationships.
These were some pretty depressing stories. Most of them were from people who need to cut back a little contact with their families, from the sound of it.
I'm really glad my Thanksgiving wasn't like any of these!
By my estimate, at least half of BoredPanda is full of stories of dysfunctional familes and relationships.
These were some pretty depressing stories. Most of them were from people who need to cut back a little contact with their families, from the sound of it.
I'm really glad my Thanksgiving wasn't like any of these!
