"Every family has a group chat. Most families shouldn't. And never is that group chat more chaotic than during the holidays. My family's group chat melts down every November. Every year I consider muting it, if not skipping Thanksgiving altogether. Every year, my mom guilts me about my grandma's age (old). So I stay. Here's how I expect it to unravel this time around."
"Mom (Wednesday, 9:47 a.m.): Good morning! Just confirming everyone's arrival times for tomorrow. Please respond ASAP so I know how much turkey to buy 🦃 Me (9:52 a.m.): Flight canceled. Rebooking now. Mom (9:53 a.m.): WHAT!!! 😱 Me (9:53 a.m.): Weather in NJ Mom (9:53 a.m.): Don't they know it's Thanksgiving??? Me (9:54 a.m.): New flight gets in at 11 p.m. tomorrow Mom (9:55 a.m.): 11 P.M. AT NIGHT?? Me (9:56 a.m.): No, 11 p.m. in the morning Me (9:57 a.m.): Yes at night"
Family group chats predictably descend into chaotic, overlapping messages during holiday gatherings. Travel cancellations and rebookings spark rapid exchanges and miscommunication about arrival times. Relatives announce guests, dietary restrictions, and arrival progress with conflicting tones and impatience. Parental anxiety centers on logistics like turkey quantities and guest approvals. Old patterns of guilt and obligation compel attendance despite frustration. The chat captures everyday family dynamics: humor, irritation, overcommunication, and the tug of familial responsibility that ultimately keeps members participating in the holiday despite repeated disruptions.
Read at Bustle
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