Hi.
Today’s will be short and sweet.
If you have been playing along, we are switching from planning to doing. If you need to catch up, click here.
You don’t like going to the store when it’s full of people, do you? Me neither. I also want to ensure that I have no reason to try to find any place open on Thanksgiving (nor do I want to encourage non-essential places to be open.
So, how do I ensure this in a household of eight? Aside from mostly empty threats, verbal reminders, and angry glares?
Labels. Yes. It is that simple.
A sharpie marker and tape.
Do not eat. Not yours. This is for Thanksgiving. YOU will buy more of this.
It helps that most of our kids now have jobs and are becoming more aware of how money works.
Go through your pantry, fridge and freezer and label the do not touches. While you are checking your grocery items, check your toilet paper, and paper towels. Make a list of any items that are missing. You have one last trip to the store, for any perishable produce and if you opted for it, to grab your fresh turkey..
If you opted for a frozen turkey, is it thawing?
Is your table clear?
Great. You’ve got this.
Previously
- Got the house ready
- Double-checked our ingredients/shopping list
- Decided on Beverages
- Guest check-in
- Assigned menu items their dishes
- Given thought to reasonable health precautions
- Thought about food safety
- Created our Thanksgiving Timetable
- Finalized the grocery list
- Finalized the menu
- Invited the guests
- Learned how to keep a safe kitchen
- Decided what we will prep ahead
- Decided on the turkey
- Learned about homemade stock
- Made a plan to make doing the dishes easier
- Ensured we have enough place settings
- Created a plan to grocery shop
- Created our soft menu plan
- Written a tentative guest list
- Figured out how our guests’ needs affect our plans
- Cleared the table
- Set the intention to keep it clear.
- Made a point to try to stick to the weekly chore schedule
Good luck with keeping teenage boys out of the holiday food beforehand. Do you know what is convenient? Having a son who actually works for the grocery and can bring home everything you forgot. Wait, you do know the convenience of that.
And while we are talking about sons working for groceries. Or daughters. Or spouses. Or anyone else – remember to be nice to those folk people. They are working very hard and doing the best they can. So going off on some poor cashier, bagger, or customer service clerk does not help your case or do any good. They can’t help that you didn’t shop early enough and now the store is out of mini marshmallows. So remember that they are probably doing all the same food prep work you are doing while also have to work long holiday hours and deal with difficult customers.
Rant over!