Thanksgiving is often idealized as an occasion during which family and friends gather around an outsized meal, and give thanks for health, achievements, and each other, but for some families, members wait until the end of the night when they can give thanks for getting away from each other and old familial tensions. It’s no secret holidays can resurrect old dysfunction, regress individuals to familiar roles, and create anxiety. Although I wasn’t surprised when these phenomena appeared at a Thanksgiving hosted by my youngest brother, I was surprised their catalyst was my foray into turkey carving.
