I never made Thanksgiving a big deal at our house. I do cook a traditional Thanksgiving but we have it about 7 pm. As the kids got older I didn't put any expectations or guilt to where they should be at Thanksgiving meal, usually they wanted to go to relatives or boyfriend's home for the noon meal and here for the later meal. This has worked great when in laws came into the picture. Hubby, kids and I had Christmas morning at home. I told my family and my hubby's family after our first child was born, we would not be traveling away from home during Christmas, that wasn't fair for kids to be dragged all over creation. It was the best foot putting down decision I ever made. :D