Thanksgiving Checklist: The Kids’ Table

I’m sure you guys are all up to your eyeballs in grocery store rage and finding the right elastic-waist pants for the upcoming holiday weekend.  So I won’t keep you very long.  I just want to make sure you’re not overlooking one critical aspect of your Thanksgiving prep:  The Kids’ Table.

Basically, there are two ways you can approach this.

1)  Pottery Barn Kids’ Way

I’ve taken the liberty of sharing a few of the tidbits from their latest catalog for your consideration.

{Image credit: Pottery Barn Kids}

Great points, PBK.  Let’s definitely remind the kids of what they have to be thankful for.  Should we do that through unnecessary, time-consuming craft projects while we’re all prepping huge dinners?  Of course!  I would fucking love to spend the days leading up to Thanksgiving building a true-to-scale replica of the Mayflower for a kids’ table centerpiece.  Please tell me — what else can I do to avoid abject parental failure?  Let’s see…

{Image credit: Pottery Barn Kids}

I can’t believe I almost had Thanksgiving without party favors for the kids.  They would have been furious if they didn’t *receive* something on this day of thanks. And giving.  Plus, we totally need a turkey pencil holder to carry us through that critical seven-week stretch between our Halloween pencil holder and our Christmas pencil holder.  Crisis averted, for sure.

{Image credit: Pottery Barn Kids}

Because nothing says gratitude like felt leaves.  I know this is always a huge conversation starter in my house.

{Image credit: Pottery Barn Kids}

OMG, HOLD UP.  I DON’T HAVE TO PUT FINE CHINA ON THE KIDS’ TABLE?  THANK YOU, PBK!  I NEVER WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS.  {Also, in my house, “shatter-proof plates” = paper.}

So, that’s one way you could do the kids’ table.  But let me now present an alternative.

2)  My Way

Folding table:  Check.

{Tablecloth?  OK, OK — I’ll get one.  But low maintenance, inexpensive and, for God’s sake, machine washable.}

Decorative headgear made in school:  Check.

Let’s see, what else?

Nothing — we’re done!  With nary a decorative acorn in sight.  Now we can focus on family and friends without those pesky felt leaves and ships all over the place.

So there you have it — an important decision.  One approach requires glue guns and the patience of a saint, but allows you to look like a goddess on Pinterest.  The other lacks a certain je ne sais quoi, but gives you far more time for important prep items — like Pie Quality Control Testing.

Your choice, folks.  Happy Thanksgiving!