DEAR ABBY: Would you like to know how my mom reduced the stress of Thanksgiving on our family? My siblings all live locally, so holidays became more and more complicated as they tried to plan around both sides of the family and start family traditions of their own with their kids.
Mom solved the problem by moving our Thanksgiving celebration to the Sunday before. That way we had Saturday to prepare, didn't have kids asking all morning when we were going to eat and didn't have to compete with a football game. Mom put the turkey in the oven on Sunday morning before we went to church, and an hour after we got home it was ready to eat.
My folks and single siblings let people know they were available on Thanksgiving Day and were invited to the homes of other family or friends. As Mom grew older, the gathering became a potluck and other relatives were invited, including the in-laws who were not available on Thursday. -- CARRYING ON THE TRADITION
DEAR CARRYING ON: You mention your mother in the past tense, so I assume that she is no longer with us. If she were, I would ask you to please tell her for me that her solution was brilliant.