We’re living in unprecedented times. Not many of us have celebrated Thanksgiving during a pandemic, let alone hosted an event during quarantine.
During a year of COVID-19, we have added pressure on us. Not only do we want to host an enjoyable Thanksgiving meal for our family, but we also need to take precautions to keep them safe.
Today, I want to share with you some uncomplicated, no-fuss ways to host a safe yet memorable Thanksgiving as our numbers in our country start to soar again.
Hosting a virtual Thanksgiving event doesn’t sound as fun as the real thing, I know. However, there are steps we can take that will keep our Thanksgiving fun and uncomplicated.
Make sure everyone is on the same page with where to meet. Zoom is probably the most popular choice, though there are other options. Make sure everyone has the correct login information, including passwords, if needed.
This is the fun part – we can create a beautiful setting for our virtual Thanksgiving. We can buy a bouquet, make candles out of mini pumpkins, and add them to our table, which will look festive and inviting.
Everyone can cook their own Thanksgiving meal . Once it’s cooked, everyone can serve it at the same time while on the Zoom call.
Another option is to engage a caterer for the meal, which works great when friends and family live close by. Some caterers are offering specials this year, meaning they’ll deliver a fresh, delicious Thanksgiving meal to our home and to those we’ve invited to our virtual event for a reasonable price.
Once the meal’s been served, now it’s time for some fun. Try party games like:
Of course, no Thanksgiving would be complete without taking the time to express our gratitude.
What if our family insists on in-person Thanksgiving? We can still take steps to keep them safe while in our home.
If it’s not too cold, we can serve the meal outside . Germs love warm, cozy environments, so staying outside can help us prevent getting sick.
We should limit the number of people who come over, even if we’re eating outside. The fewer people there are, the easier it is to maintain our distance.
Set up chairs so that they’re six feet apart. Make it fun for all – including the kiddos – by sticking fun tape on the floor to show where people should stand. If that’s not possible, wearing masks is best (except while eating, of course).
At strategic locations around the house (and outside), have little hand sanitizing stations. Have hand sanitizing spray, gel, or wipes available for all to regularly disinfect.
To keep the risk of infection to a minimum , we can also do the following.
Something we teach our kids from a very young age is that safety comes first. We want to protect them from getting hurt, so we teach them how to stay safe throughout their life.
Deciding to host a virtual Thanksgiving might not be the option that’s the most fun or the most popular. However, it could be the one that’s the safest.
By taking extra precautions this year, we can (hopefully) prevent anyone from getting sick and help to ensure we don’t have to go through this again next year.
❤️
Thank you!!