The GREAT Turkey War!

I've had to fight really hard to convince my family and Chris that holidays for children should be in their home. This is something I grew up with and I feel it is important. We always had the most special events in our home growing up. This included opening gifts on Christmas morning and Thanksgiving dinner.

Unfortunately if you ask the grandparents (Chris' side) or the Abuelitos (my side) those traditions should be done in their home or worse we should have to drive cross country with Great-Grandparents. So for the last 5 years of our marriage we have been playing tug of war and compromising. The final compromise was that we celebrate the main parts in our home and than (assuming they are in town) we will take a little time and visit each of the families. In the mean time if either side wants to attend the main event in our home they are welcome to attend.

So what is the problem? Well even though Chris and I agree the families still want it their way. Chris' family is traveling to Phoenix (even though they all live here to go have a reunion) and so there is the pressure there (and it is a full court press). Than there is the fact that Chris really loves my mom's food. For an Abuelita born in Puerto Rico the chick can cook a bird and do the good old fashioned southern fixings. Chris goes crazy for it!!!! So now there is pressure for me not to even really cook and just go over there to eat. After all... I've been having some complications with my condition and he doesn't want me to overdo it (like I'm buying that one).

Alas this is a pain in the neck. I can either insist on cooking for Thanksgiving (you would think my spouse would be excited with the idea of his wife actually cooking) and force everyone in my family (including my siblings and parents) to endure two full meals on Thanksgiving. Or cave and do Tamales or turkey sandwiches. Chris promises it is only for this year because he really is worried about my health. Nevertheless I worry that all these years of me fighting for Holiday respect is out the window b/c my mom is the Latina Paula Deen. I'll probably give in but heck no is she beating me out on Christmas!!!!