Thanksgiving comes with it’s layered complexity. As a Black woman in America, I hold the truth of what this holiday really represents—and still find meaning in using this time to gather with the people I love. Like I shared in last week’s Holiday Bread Ideas post, both realities can exist at the same time.
However, this year looks nothing like years before. I’m in Colorado with my kids and my mom, spending the holiday with their dad. It’s the first time—maybe ever—that I won’t be at our big family Thanksgiving surrounded by aunties, cousins, kids running through the house, and enough food to feed the block. Decisions had to be made, and we’re here for the kids.
That’s enough for me right now.
We flew in this time. (Last time we drove. The time before that, we RV’ed. Clearly, we like to keep things interesting.) We caught the Buffs’ last home game of the season. They didn’t win, but we still had a good time—the scenery and atmosphere is unmatched.
The kids’ dad also pulled out this deck called Children Are Human, and we’ve been going through the question cards together. Hearing the kids’ answers, learning what they think about the world, even pausing to learn something about myself—I didn’t expect that part. Sometimes the smallest moments make you slow down and remember who you’re becoming.
And then there’s Thanksgiving dinner. We’re having it at the school this year. I’ve never cooked a Thanksgiving dinner in my life, so in a way this takes the pressure off…but I don’t know what to expect. It won’t be traditional. It isn’t what I planned. But I’m here with family—my mother, my babies, and even the man I built a life with once upon a time.
It’s not perfect, but it’s ours. And honestly, I feel grateful. Grateful for new experiences. Grateful for the space to acknowledge the truth of this holiday and create gentler memories around it. Even in this season of change, I am grateful there is still love, still connection, still something to look forward to.
If this week teaches me anything, it’s that family doesn’t always look like the picture you grew up with. But it’s still worth showing up for—with honesty, with hope, with an open heart.
Happy Thanksgiving, from Colorado.
BTW: “Even when the path bends, you can still walk it with grace.”
– Unknown
I’d love to hear from you. How are you choosing to honor both truth and gratitude this Thanksgiving—no matter where you are or who you’re with?
Other Post You May Enjoy:
Holiday Bread Ideas: Fancy Loaves, Simple Joys, Real Connection
Healing Through Family Connection: Lessons from Thanksgiving in Houston
Top Family-Friendly Travel Destinations for Spring Break 2025
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