The Disrespected Turkey

I typically don't use my blog to vent. I find it too easy to get in the habit of griping about life, and who needs that kind of negativity? But... today I'm going to. Because this drives me nuts.

Shopping ON Thanksgiving.

To be fair, I'm not a fan of shopping. I find it frustrating and stressful, and I always worry that I shouldn't be spending money (this is what happens when you are in charge of bills in your household). Despite that, I understand Black Friday and the rush people get from finding specials and fighting the crowds. I would rather poke my eyes out with a fork, but I get why many people like it. I guess.

This year people are pushing it a bit farther and shopping ON Thanksgiving. Now, maybe this is not the first year that this has been a trend, but I think it's certainly getting more publicity. Folks are leaving shortly after their holiday meal to find their holiday deals and I think it's ridiculous. Shoppers can't stay home ONE DAY and relax? Or just shop on the internet? I really don't get it.

I do realize that not everyone is blessed enough to have family live nearby or to have halfway sane family members to spend time with. But other people do, and they want to stay at home and enjoy them, not sell sweaters and televisions on a holiday.

I think that perhaps this subject may get under my skin a little more because my mom is a nurse and has had to miss every other holiday with us for as long as I can remember. Obviously doctors and nurses can't just stay at home, and I have a lot of respect my mother's career. She has always worked in geriatrics, and now she works as a hospice nurse. So this year for Christmas she'll be caring for dying people while others are at home opening gifts and eating ham. She never complains about it, just takes it in stride. But I'm pretty sure if she had to work at a department store, it wouldn't be as fulfilling to miss the holidays. And, she's not the only one that misses holiday celebrations, we have to miss celebrating with her.

Oh, and one more thing that gets under my skin. I have read posts on facebook for nearly a month complaining about people enjoying Christmas things prior to Thanksgiving. Complain, complain, complain, about Christmas lights, music, decorations, yadda, yadda, yadda. Generally I kind of feel the same way, but I've started viewing Thanksgiving and Christmas as one big holiday season. And, I pretty much missed out on Christmas last year as I was shushing, rocking, nursing a very colicky newborn the entire season. I have catching up to do.

In any case, as I scrolled through my facebook feed on Thanksgiving, pretty much the same people that had vented about Christmas decorations being out too early were bragging about the great deals they had snagged on Thanksgiving. REALLY?!? It's super awful for me to enjoy Christmas music a week before Thanksgiving but OK for you to necessitate workers missing a holiday so you can shop? This makes no sense to me.

What do you think? Should retail stores be open on Thanksgiving?

** Now that I've ticked off probably half my readers, I'll try to reel everyone back in with this news... I'm being featured on Curvy Girl Guide this Tuesday! Stay tuned :)