5 Signs That YOU—Not Mom, Grandma, Aunt, Whoever—Should Host Thanksgiving This Year
I'm not the first person to say this, but some people should not host Thanksgiving. Or any holiday meal, full stop. But that leads one to wonder: Who should host Thanksgiving?
Some people can really pull it off, while others should be seated at the head of the kids' table. Here are five quick (and abundantly clear) signs you (and maybe not your aunt, an uncle twice-removed, or even sweet grandma) should host the big meal this year.
You know how to cook and enjoy cooking
This is by far the most important question to consider: do you really, truly, from the bottom of your heart, know how to cook? And do you enjoy the act of cooking? If you waver on either of those questions, consider why you really want to host. Could it be that you're hosting just for the glory? To prove your older brother wrong? To get the chance to show off your new pool/Tesla/baby grand piano to the whole family?
While those won't necessarily disqualify you, Thanksgiving is not an easy meal to make, and turkey is notoriously tricky to cook well. Consider this cautionary tale: A dear friend of mine (who does not have an interest in or natural skill for cooking), decided to host and cook a whole turkey for the first time last year. Spoiler: She cooked the turkey at 165°F for four hours—yes, the desired internal temperature for a turkey—which yielded only a clammy turkey. This is all to say we did not have turkey on the table at all.
You're organized (or you enjoy the chaos of the day)
Some people love a spreadsheet and two weeks of prep work; others enjoy all the mayhem the day presents. Either of those varieties of people are perfectly equipped for Thanksgiving, where ovens and timers are going off, dishes require different temperatures, and the pacing can get out of whack with too many literal cooks in the kitchen.
In my opinion, I love the mayhem-makers. If you've ever worked in a restaurant, you've likely met more than a few people who love the chaos of a busy kitchen. Those are the people you should absolutely surround yourself with, because they'll know how to cook up an incredible Thanksgiving (or they know where to dine out instead, TBH).
You're not at the center of unresolved family drama
The holidays are primetime for the annual airing of grievances, and not just on Festivus. So if you've found yourself at the center of any recent or recurring family drama, maybe this year is not the time to host. Why is that? Things will already be pretty overheated in the kitchen, so maybe it's best to cool off somewhere safe like the living room recliner, if not to avoid managing a shifting RSVP list or having to communicate more than usual with tricky relatives.
You know how to delegate
Perhaps you lack the necessary cooking skills, but still really want to host. If you can succeed in the delegation department, I see nothing wrong with hosting Turkey Day. With enough tact (and kindness), delegating bigger tasks like roasting the bird or making the secret family recipe for pumpkin pie is what makes a holiday way more easy-breezy. Plus, it saves the meal from being completely made by anyone (ahem, one of my aunt's boyfriends) whose cooking chops leave something to be desired.
You don't take yourself too seriously
So you're not Ina or Gordon in the kitchen; that's actually great news! This means you'll remember that Thanksgiving is very much about the food, but also equally as much about the gathering, too. Invite your loved ones, do your best to make a great meal, and then let it all go. Most people won't even remember the individual dishes, or the beef they have with their aunt's new boyfriend. But they'll 100% remember whether they had a good time with a great host at the helm (who didn't make it all about showing off their new pool/Tesla/baby grand piano).
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