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agonyaunt2026-01-26 02:39 pm
minoanmiss) wrote in agonyaunt2026-01-26 02:39 pm
Dear Care And Feeding: Disaster Thanksgiving
I Made the Mistake of Inviting My Family to My Brand-New Home. The Night Ended in Chaotic Disaster.
Dear Care and Feeding,
I made the mistake of hosting Thanksgiving in my new home. It is a three-story, two-bath home built on the water off a jogging path. The lot is long and narrow, so one hallway runs through the entire house, and it isn’t fenced off.
My brother was supposed to bring just his girlfriend. Instead, it was her, her two screaming sons, and another friend with her two uncontrollable dogs. I didn’t get to rest for a minute because they both went immediately to the booze and left the kids and dogs to their own devices.
I finally had to corral the dogs into my laundry room because they wouldn’t stop jumping on people or trying to get out. The boys refused to close the door properly or do anything short of screaming murder. The rest of my guests were obviously unhappy, but then my neighbors came by. They were outside smoking the turkey, and the boys wouldn’t stop screaming and trying to come over. The grandkids had left toys and a mini trampoline they wanted to try. When their backs were turned, the oldest stole the trampoline and took it to my yard. My neighbor was very polite when pointing it out, but the kid screamed that he was a liar. I lost my temper and yelled at him to shut up and apologize.
This set off his mom, and she started to yell, and at some point, the dogs got loose, and both ran out of the open door. One was caught, but the other is still missing. My brother blames me and thinks I owe his friend money for the lost dog. I told him to look in the mirror. His girlfriend got so drunk she couldn’t stand up straight by the end of the night. We were supposed to attend family events, and I know he or his girlfriend will bring this debacle up. Should I just skip or just skip trying to keep the peace?
—Holiday Horror
Dear Holiday Horror,
Whew! That was an eventful Thanksgiving if I ever heard one. Although I understand why your brother’s girlfriend brought her sons over for the holiday, I don’t get why she’d bring dogs without asking or ensuring they had a safe place to hang out. She and your brother definitely should have been watching all four of them. So no excuse for that!
But what’s done is done, and now you have to figure out the best way to move forward. Go to every family event you want to attend. Your brother and SIL can bring up the debacle, but I don’t think it matters. Most people would lose their temper in that situation, and you tried to handle it the best you could. If they want to explain why they left two kids and two dogs unattended, then by all means, let them! I don’t really think other people will be on their side.
Your Thanksgiving was already rough. You should be able to enjoy future family events that you’ve been looking forward to. Remember that even if their attempt at retelling the story might be a little irritating, nothing will be as nerve-racking as that day. It’s over, and you’ve gotten through it. Now, just remember that you don’t have to invite them over next year.
—Arionne
Dear Care and Feeding,
I made the mistake of hosting Thanksgiving in my new home. It is a three-story, two-bath home built on the water off a jogging path. The lot is long and narrow, so one hallway runs through the entire house, and it isn’t fenced off.
My brother was supposed to bring just his girlfriend. Instead, it was her, her two screaming sons, and another friend with her two uncontrollable dogs. I didn’t get to rest for a minute because they both went immediately to the booze and left the kids and dogs to their own devices.
I finally had to corral the dogs into my laundry room because they wouldn’t stop jumping on people or trying to get out. The boys refused to close the door properly or do anything short of screaming murder. The rest of my guests were obviously unhappy, but then my neighbors came by. They were outside smoking the turkey, and the boys wouldn’t stop screaming and trying to come over. The grandkids had left toys and a mini trampoline they wanted to try. When their backs were turned, the oldest stole the trampoline and took it to my yard. My neighbor was very polite when pointing it out, but the kid screamed that he was a liar. I lost my temper and yelled at him to shut up and apologize.
This set off his mom, and she started to yell, and at some point, the dogs got loose, and both ran out of the open door. One was caught, but the other is still missing. My brother blames me and thinks I owe his friend money for the lost dog. I told him to look in the mirror. His girlfriend got so drunk she couldn’t stand up straight by the end of the night. We were supposed to attend family events, and I know he or his girlfriend will bring this debacle up. Should I just skip or just skip trying to keep the peace?
—Holiday Horror
Dear Holiday Horror,
Whew! That was an eventful Thanksgiving if I ever heard one. Although I understand why your brother’s girlfriend brought her sons over for the holiday, I don’t get why she’d bring dogs without asking or ensuring they had a safe place to hang out. She and your brother definitely should have been watching all four of them. So no excuse for that!
But what’s done is done, and now you have to figure out the best way to move forward. Go to every family event you want to attend. Your brother and SIL can bring up the debacle, but I don’t think it matters. Most people would lose their temper in that situation, and you tried to handle it the best you could. If they want to explain why they left two kids and two dogs unattended, then by all means, let them! I don’t really think other people will be on their side.
Your Thanksgiving was already rough. You should be able to enjoy future family events that you’ve been looking forward to. Remember that even if their attempt at retelling the story might be a little irritating, nothing will be as nerve-racking as that day. It’s over, and you’ve gotten through it. Now, just remember that you don’t have to invite them over next year.
—Arionne