Sewbiz my friends get together with their entire family to celebrate Christmas and Thanksgiving. They call it Thanksmas.

Kelly’s friends aren’t young adults but 40 something with no children and a fantastically beautiful 5,000 multi level square foot home in one of our fancy suburbs. Should tell her we will bring the food and go to their house so we can all spread out and not trip over each other even if I do manage to get all my sewing out of the dining room. She can’t help me pick up because she is flying in about an hour before dinner.

That's a good idea! If they really cared about gathering at Thanksgiving, maybe they should have hosted their own dinner, and invited others they know who won't be with family for Thanksgiving. If you are not up to extra guests, you should just tell Kelly the truth. Her friends will be ok. You have been through a LOT.

I did it. I told Kelly I just wasn’t up to it. She said no problem and would help me on Friday. What a relief.

That’s such a relief, Terri. Enjoy your Thanksgiving.

Terriamn, don't you think as Moms we're often not accustomed to saying no to our children, even when it's in our own best interests? Sounds like you handled the situation perfectly. Good for you. :)

Janice I definitely have a problem saying no to my children. They don’t ask much at their current ages and when they do I want to reply immediately of course I would love to do that

Since moving to Ohio, this will be the first time I'll be spending the holidays with my brother, his family, my son and granddaughter in many, many years. I'm really excited. While I was in Florida, I usually just spent it with my parents. Nobody came to Florida during the holidays.

Klaws enjoy your family Thanksgiving

I can’t say no to my kids. My eldest lives in new York now and keeps inviting his friends to Oregon when he visits. He did it again this year, only asking us if it was ok after he’d already extended the invite. I think I’ll have a talk with him about it this year. Part of the problem is that I’m about as introverted as you can get and he’s equally extroverted. When he brings his friends to stay with us, it zaps me of all my energy.

I'm exactly the same way, Pamela.