The holiday season often brings with it joyful reunions, warm traditions, and cherished moments. But for many, it also means navigating challenging dynamics in relationships—awkward questions, unexpected emotions, and moments when you’re left unsure how to respond. As an honourable mention, we all have that person in our lives who it’s mind-bendingly-hard to write a Christmas card for. IYKYK.

With Thanksgiving less than two weeks away, there isn’t a lot that one article can do to help you fix everything you are concerned about for Thanksgiving, but the hope is that it might be able to help some of you manage your expectations around this season and help you get through in a way you feel you had a say in how your experience yourself, others and your time.