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Communication FUNdamentals
Nov. 25, 2008
Thanksgiving Guest Etiquette
If you are going to be a guest for Thanksgiving, it is important to be aware that the work load for the host is enormous. The larger the crowd and the more creative the host, the more set up and clean up is involved. Take some of the stress off the host this Thanksgiving. Here's how:
1. Offer to help the host with the cooking or preparation ahead of time if at all possible.
Thanksgiving was always my Mom's holiday. It's her favorite time of year and she goes to extreme limits to make the event a memorable one for her guests. For the first time in years, I am local to her and can be of some assistance. She is the perfect hostess and leaves no detail left to chance. It is my great pleasure to help her in any way that I can now that I am living so close!
2. Arrive no earlier than the time the host has announced.
...and barring any unforeseen traveling issues, within no more than about 15 or 20 minutes after the time. The host has gone to much trouble to prepare and may be busy preparing right up until the time she has set for guests to arrive. Don't put any more added stress on her by showing up an hour earlier than scheduled, especially if you haven't yet had lunch!
3. Bring a little gift for the host if you can.
To show your appreciation you can bring the host a little gift or a side dish or a dessert with you. If you are traveling a distance, bringing a dish might not be practical. A little inexpensive gift for the host can show your appreciation.
4. Plan to stay no later than the host had planned for the event.
If you are traveling a far distance, the host may have invited you to stay the night, but if you live close by, it is impolite to overstay your welcome. The host may be quite tired from her busy day and need her down time.
5. Offer to help set up for dinner and to clean up afterward.
One of my fondest memories of Thanksgiving is helping my mom clean up after Thanksgiving dinner! It's a time where we get to reflect on the day and take time to share more with the ladies of the family. I know it's a big help to my mom who has spent the prior two to three weeks in preparation for this momentous and memorable event!
6. Make sure you call or write afterward.
It can be very easy to say thank you while you are at Thanksgiving Dinner, but it shows true appreciation if you take the time afterward to call or write and express that after the event. Think about your host and how tired she might be from putting on an event of this magnitude even two or three days after Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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JoJo Tabares holds a degree in Speech Communication, but it is her humorous approach to communication skills which has made her a highly sought-after Christian speaker and writer. Her articles appear in homeschool publications, such as Homeschool Enrichment Magazine and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, which also endorses her Say What You Mean curricula. You can also find JoJo on web sites such as Crosswalk.com and Dr.Laura.com. For more information on communication FUNdamentals and Christian-based communication studies for the whole family, please visit http://www.ArtofEloquence.com
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From JoJo's Purple Crayon
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