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THE SAFETY OF OUR PROVIDERS AND THE FAMILIES THEY SERVE IS OUR TOP PRIORITY. LEARN HOW.
People around the country are making last-minute changes to their Thanksgiving 2020 plans, thanks to skyrocketing COVID-19 cases and new guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
While it can feel frustrating and sad to make these changes, it’s critical to remember that they’re for the good of public health and safety. Making adjustments doesn’t have to mean completely ignoring the holiday, though. A few small changes can keep your family and your community safe while still allowing you to enjoy the season.
Your family’s safety is our top priority, and we want to help you have a happy and safe Thanksgiving 2020. Here are some ideas for safely celebrating the holiday while also holding on to some of your most cherished family traditions.
1. Embrace Technology
Sharing a meal with your loved ones without sitting at the table might have seemed laughable a year ago. In 2020, setting up a Zoom call with multiple households can allow you to share your Thanksgiving meal from a safe distance. Zoom is waiving their 40-minute time limit on Thanksgiving Day, so you can chat with your family and friends all day long without worrying about the call dropping.
If you or your family members are new to video calling, do a test run before the big day to make sure everyone has access to it and knows how to use it. This can help isolated loved ones, especially those who are not particularly tech-savvy, feel excited instead of anxious about the upcoming virtual gathering.
2. Try a New Recipe
The 2020 holiday season doesn’t feel like normal, making this the perfect year to try a new recipe (or three). Don’t be afraid to go wild with experimental dishes, like these ideas from Bon Appetit! Nobody will know if your turkey sushi or pumpkin eggrolls don’t turn out. As a bonus, if your experimental side dishes turn out amazing, you’ll have a brand-new dish to wow guests next year!
Take this idea a step further by suggesting that everyone you will be Zoom-ing with do the same thing. Then, during dinner, you can take turns sharing your new creations and doing a live “taste test.”
3. Give the Kids Something to Do
You might typically expect your kids to behave on Thanksgiving when they are around friends and relatives. This year, let them do what they’ve always wanted—play with their food! These food science experiments from We Are Teachers are a fun way to keep kids engaged and entertained, so they aren’t focused on all the things they are missing this year.
Another option is to give your kids a fun craft to keep them occupied. Our DIY Handprint Turkey tutorial is a fun and simple craft kids of all ages will love!
4. Help Out Vulnerable Neighbors
One of the best ways to feel better about all the changes happening this year is to do something nice for others. Think about your neighbors and who might be the most vulnerable. Reach out via phone, neighborhood messenger, or old-fashioned handwritten note to see if they have plans for Thanksgiving 2020. This time of year can be incredibly isolating for aging adults who do not have family or who normally gather with friends outside the home.
Help your neighbors by dropping off food or inviting them to join you for a virtual dinner. You could also set up a time to both sit on your front porches and have a socially distanced chat. A neighborhood “party” in which multiple neighbors sit outside at the same time to share the holiday could bring cheer to everyone while still keeping the community safe.
5. Get Some Black Friday Shopping Done in Your Pajamas
If your Thanksgiving tradition usually includes standing in line for Black Friday sales, you may want to reconsider your plans this year. A lot of stores have already posted Black Friday specials online. Others will wait until Friday to share them.
Either way, enjoy the thrill of not fighting traffic on the roads or in stores this year. Pour yourself a festive beverage, get in your PJs, and log on to your favorite online stores to shop to your heart’s content. Start a phone call or video call with your normal Black Friday shopping crew to chat about the deals you find and keep the social aspect of Black Friday alive.
As an added benefit, you can have presents that you order online shipped directly to the recipients, saving you an added trip. Many online retailers offer gift wrapping for a small fee, so the recipient can still enjoy the fun of unwrapping your present or leaving it under the tree until Christmas morning.
No matter what you have planned for Thanksgiving 2020, we can help! @Ease offers childcare and household staffing solutions for busy families. From providing safe childcare services so you can discreetly shop online to a full range of home and estate solutions that will ensure your house is pristine all holiday season long, we’re here for you.
Visit our website to learn more about our services and get matched with an experienced provider today!
