This year's holiday traditions will look very different for many of us, thanks to Covid. As we discussed in our last post, pregnancy poses an added risk and reason to limit your exposure to the virus, so it's best to plan for a fun, stay-at-home, single-family celebration. Below are some ideas to keep it safe, fun, and connected this Thanksgiving.
Take a family photo, 2020 style - Using the virtual conferencing platform of your choice (Zoom, Google Hangouts, etc.), get everybody in a screen, say cheese, and snap a screenshot. Later, print and frame copies to give out as holiday gifts!
Go big when staying home - The bigger the screen for your virtual sharing, the better. Cast your virtual dinner/cooking/hanging out to a larger screen, like a monitor or TV, so you're not all squinting around a phone or tablet.
Dress up -- or not - If you want to maintain the feel of a traditional holiday family get-together, then dress like you'd normally dress for gathering with your crowd of people. Or, take advantage of this unique moment in time where you can wear your pajamas or sweats ALL day long!
Your favorite holiday foods - If you want it to feel more like the real thing, then sure, go ahead and make Aunt Edna's jello mold and take a polite bite or two. Even better is to cook (or order in!) your favorite holiday foods only. Have a roast instead of turkey or pasta instead of mashed potatoes -- whatever floats your pandemic pregnancy boat!
Set an extra place setting - For the screen, of course! Plan to dine together virtually at a designated time, setting up your conferencing in advance and making sure the volume is adjusted appropriately. Share prayers, messages of thanks, and jokes, just like you would in person.
Virtual games, crafts, baking, cooking - Instead of or in addition to sharing a virtual dinner, you can plan to connect virtually for other activities, like family games, crafts, baking, or cooking. Search "virtual holiday games" and you'll find loads of ideas online.
Published: November 23, 2020
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ThanksgivingHoliday Gatherings During PregnancyCovid and Pregnancy