We are entering the holiday season, that most wonderful time of the year when we look forward to coming together as a family. It is the time of year when wearing sweaters and yoga pants daily is socially acceptable. It is the time of year when your coworkers, neighbors, and friends begin to dig into their recipe boxes and cookbooks to find that one favorite holiday dessert passed down from their great ancestors. Cookies, cakes, pies, breads, and soups, just to name a few. I like to fill my home with the aroma of something savory cooking in my crockpot. It is the season of pumpkin patches, pumpkin spices, and gathering around the firepit for s’mores. Many families begin to make plans to gather for food, football, and Thanksgiving dinner. It is the season of family.
Like any other life event, planning ahead helps ease tension and stress for everyone. When I host the Thanksgiving meal, I start planning at least two months in advance. It is the same with planning for life changes. Even the thought of having to adjust one’s life, location, or lifestyle can bring about anxiety, especially if you are alone. In this season of gratitude and thankfulness, what better way to navigate these often-tough conversations than to weave them into mealtime.
The Appetizer: The appetizer is the first taste of what’s to come. With family gatherings comes family discussions. Use the appetizer to test the waters of the conversation. Use this time to simply connect with one another. This is the time to be grateful, and to honor those who are unable to join you. Be present.
Soup & Salad: The next course brings attention to the details. Here is where you may note how much you appreciate the time you have with extended family and the opportunity to celebrate life’s major events. Discussions of milestones and celebrations that happened over the past year.
The Main Course: As you enjoy good food and conversation, you may note how much you wish visiting family members were closer so you could gather more often. Here is where the conversation shifts from light to intimate. This conversation lends itself to highlighting the many positive reasons for a move and transition to happen. As you pass the buttery mashed potatoes, you begin to ask questions. What if the family was closer? What if our parents lived closer to their children and grandchildren? What would it take to make it happen? This conversation can either be a delight to discuss, or daunting. Grab a scoop of cranberry sauce and don’t force the conversation. Provide some reassurance that the family member will not be alone in the process, and they will have guidance along the way. It is never too early to have this conversation or to get started.
Dessert and Cocktails: Whew, that was a close one! The meal and the conversations can be heavy. Now, let’s get to the good part—dessert. Here is where the family gets up from the table, gathers to watch football, takes a nap, or cleans up. As the meal closes with a delightful dessert or dinner cocktail, the conversation may continue with the discussions of timelines, costs and logistics of moving. Whether one chooses to age in place or move, the good news is that there is a complete move solution called, WayForth, to support the entire family.