Woman Refuses To Attend MIL’s Thanksgiving After She Was Reinvited Because Other Guests Flaked

Thanksgiving should be a time of celebration. It’s the one day of the year when people get together and express gratitude alongside the people they care about the most.

But for some families, it’s a time when drama and conflict are at their peak. This woman knows that feeling all too well, having dealt with her overbearing mother-in-law, who had ruined the holiday for her in previous years.

Things got so heated one year that she had to set her boundaries to protect her peace. Unfortunately, her decision only made those around her unhappy, leaving her wallowing in guilt.

Despite the festive atmosphere, Thanksgiving can still spark some heated family drama

Woman in pink shirt cutting apples in kitchen, reflecting on refusing to attend MIL’s Thanksgiving dinner.

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For this woman, the issue was with her overbearing mother-in-law

Woman refuses to attend mother-in-law’s Thanksgiving after being reinvited due to other guests flaking out

Woman refuses to attend MIL’s Thanksgiving after being reinvited due to other guests flaking on family gathering plans.

Text excerpt about a woman refusing to attend her MIL’s Thanksgiving after being reinvited due to guest cancellations.

Text excerpt about a woman refusing to attend her mother-in-law’s Thanksgiving after being reinvited due to guest cancellations.

Woman refuses to attend MIL’s Thanksgiving after being reinvited due to other guests flaking on the celebration.

Text about woman refusing to attend MIL’s Thanksgiving after being reinvited due to other guests flaking on plans.

Thanksgiving dinner spread with turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, and autumn decor on a dark tablecloth.

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Their problems had been going on for years, also around the holidays

Text excerpt describing a woman refusing to attend her mother-in-law’s Thanksgiving after reinvitations due to guests flaking.

Text excerpt about woman inviting guests to Thanksgiving after others flaked, highlighting conflict with MIL’s Thanksgiving plans.

Woman refuses to attend MIL’s Thanksgiving after reinvitation due to other guests flaking on the holiday gathering.

Woman refuses to attend MIL’s Thanksgiving after being reinvited due to other guests flaking on the celebration.

Text excerpt reflecting a woman’s refusal to attend her MIL’s Thanksgiving after being reinvited due to guest cancellations.

Text excerpt about a woman refusing to attend MIL’s Thanksgiving after being reinvited due to other guests flaking.

Text discussing a woman refusing to attend her MIL's Thanksgiving after being reinvited due to other guests canceling.

Woman refusing to attend MIL’s Thanksgiving dinner while sitting on a couch during a tense family conversation.

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Fed up, she finally decided to stand her ground

Text about woman refusing to attend MIL’s Thanksgiving after being reinvited due to guests flaking and hosting issues.

Text showing a person reluctantly agreeing to attend MIL’s Thanksgiving after being reinvited due to other guests flaking.

Woman refuses to attend MIL’s Thanksgiving after being reinvited due to other guests flaking on plans.

Woman refuses to attend MIL’s Thanksgiving after being reinvited due to other guests canceling plans.

Woman refuses to attend MIL’s Thanksgiving after being reinvited due to other guests canceling last minute plans.

Text excerpt about woman refusing to attend MIL’s Thanksgiving after being reinvited due to other guests flaking.

Woman refusing to attend Thanksgiving, talking on phone with serious expression, sitting on a couch indoors.

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However, her actions didn’t sit well with her side of the family

Text excerpt from a woman refusing to attend MIL’s Thanksgiving after being reinvited due to others flaking.

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Text excerpt discussing a woman refusing to attend her MIL’s Thanksgiving after being reinvited due to guests flaking.

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Unmet and unmanaged expectations are a common source of stress during the holidays

The woman didn’t give a definite reason for her mother-in-law’s stress ahead of Thanksgiving. According to relationship expert Dr. Terri Orbuch, it’s often due to expectations that suddenly don’t go our way.

“We think this should be a perfect time, the food will be perfect, and our conversations will be respectful,” Dr. Orbuch said in an interview with Popular Science, noting that frustrations often arise when expectations and reality don’t match.

But sometimes, just being in the same room with family can already spark some tension. According to California State University psychology professor Dr. Pamela Regan, there comes a point when families return to the old, toxic behavioral paradigms.

“Because conflict is a normal part of relationships, the closer you are, and the more you self-disclose, the more you hear things you don’t like,” she said in the same interview.

Of course, there are ways to avoid conflict and stress during what is supposed to be a festive time. According to Psychology Today, accepting situations for their imperfections is one effective approach.

“Part of attaining happiness is appreciating what is,” an excerpt from the article reads.

However, the woman had been forgiving and tolerant toward her mother-in-law, who made her feel like she and her family were the least-preferred guests. Her decision to put her foot down after feeling foolish and unwanted was within reason.