Though it will just be the four of us this year, (Most of H's family will be in North Carolina with his mother.) my mental health is much better better. (During Thanksgiving week in 2015, in a fit of anger, I chopped a finger 2/3s of the way through!). I have already planned a menu, gathered old and new recipes, assembled ingredients.

My son leaves nearly everyday and hangs out with his friends. I am fine with this but asked if he could be here for either lunch or dinner (many times he is invited elsewhere). He said OK. My son and daughter do not eat with H and I but enjoy plenty of leftovers. Sadly, just getting the four of us to sit down civilly and eat a meal together rarely happens. I fear it will not go well on Thanksgiving either but I am going to try. I am going to ask them (my H and son) not to fight just this one time as a present to me. I have been feeling happy lately but when I think about how dysfunctional our family is, it really brings me down!