You’ve probably heard about the fantastic way to celebrate friendships in the fall: Friendsgiving. It’s a day of indulging in delicious food to express gratitude for friends—something that resonates with me since my kids aren’t particularly fond of the traditional turkey-centric holiday.
Every year, I find myself getting excited about Thanksgiving and feel compelled to buy a new outfit in autumn hues, transform my dining room into a colorful feast reminiscent of a pumpkin farm, and spend hours crafting chocolate leaves for my signature chocolate pie. Yes, I painstakingly paint melted chocolate onto real leaves, freeze them, peel them away, and arrange them in an ombre pattern around the pie’s edge.
Oh, and I whip up homemade cream for this pie. My teenagers prefer Cool Whip, but I’m holding out hope they’ll come around to my version soon. I do all this to create special memories for my kids, hoping they’ll embrace the spirit of gratitude for everything we have and all the effort I put in. But honestly, they couldn’t care less about Thanksgiving. They saunter down in their hoodies, question my enthusiasm, and ask when dinner will be served.
Let’s face it: kids, especially teens, aren’t exactly fans of Thanksgiving, and it’s evident. So what better way to engage them in the holiday spirit than by facilitating their own Friendsgiving?
I’ve attended a few of these gatherings with friends, and they’re a blast. We each bring our favorite dishes, there’s no pressure to cook elaborate meals (well, except for me), and the atmosphere is relaxed without the obligatory cheerful dinner table scene.
If you have teenagers, why not help them organize a Friendsgiving celebration this year?
It doesn’t need to be a grand affair. You can offer to handle the grocery shopping (after they create a list), while letting them take charge of the planning. (Honestly, putting together a festive meal once a year is quite enough for me.)
This gives them something fun to anticipate, and it’s refreshing to celebrate with friends outside of school, sports, or just hanging out over pizza and scrolling through their phones.
Here are some ideas for a fun, low-key Friendsgiving for your teens:
- Encourage them to create a shopping list of dishes they want to make and have them invite friends to bring their favorite meals.
- Browse Pinterest together to find cute crafts they can do ahead of time, like personalized name cards.
- Brainstorm activities for after the meal, such as a movie marathon, board games, or even a friendly game of flag football.
- Explore local spots for a scenic walk.
- Be available to assist, but let your teens take center stage as hosts.
- If no one wants to plan a big meal, consider hosting a dessert-only gathering.
- Purchase supplies for holiday crafts.
- Have everyone share their favorite Thanksgiving recipe (written on a card), mix them up, and let each person take home a new recipe.
- Suggest they share stories about their favorite Thanksgiving memories.
Not only will your teens learn valuable skills in hosting and planning, but they’ll also cultivate the joy of celebrating with friends. This could become a cherished tradition, and you’ll get to sit back and enjoy the experience. That’s definitely something worth being thankful for.
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Summary:
Friendsgiving is a perfect way for teens to celebrate their friendships away from the traditional Thanksgiving setting. By allowing teens to host their own gathering, they can learn valuable life skills while enjoying a relaxed and fun atmosphere with friends. This could even spark a lasting tradition that emphasizes gratitude and community.