Zoom-ing for Thanksgiving? How to make the most of it
Zooms-giving season is upon us.
Whether it’s a full Thanksgiving dinner to be shared virtually or just a quick FaceTime to check in, people around the country plan to turn to video calls to catch up with family and friends they’d otherwise visit in person.
But a Thanksgiving Zoom doesn’t have to be the same old video conference like the ones at work.
“Plan something that is a little bit entertaining or fun, and it will make it more memorable because people are definitely getting Zoom fatigue,” said Joanne Brooks, president of the event planning company Creative Impact Group in Illinois.
Nancy Newsom, 70, of Richardson, Texas, said her family will be convening for a Thanksgiving blessing over Zoom rather than their usual in-person dinner at her cousin’s house.
“We wanted to be connected. That’s our family tradition,” Newsom said. “If we can’t share a meal together, we can share a blessing.”
Newsom’s family plans to gather around noon Thursday on a Zoom meeting she said her son has planned.
Family and friends will have about 15 minutes to log in and chat before her son plans to lead the group in a prayer. People will then have a chance to share what they’re thankful for.
The short gathering will allow for people to call in from all over, including family members who are not always able to attend the in-person gatherings of years past, Newsom said. After the blessing, everyone will be able to have their own dinners with their immediate families.
Know your camera setup and plan for technical glitches
Elizabeth Hooper, 36, said she and her fiance will be calling into his family’s dinner via a selfie stick set up at the end of the table.
Hooper, who lives in Richmond, Virginia, had one sent to her fiance’s family in New York, too. “If anything it will just be a hilarious memory we all have together. ‘Remember when we all FaceTimed for Thanksgiving?’” she said.
Hooper said she knows that the conversation may have some hiccups and blips with spotty internet connections, but despite the occasional pause, she’s staying positive about executing the plan. “It’s going to be hilarious and noisy. I’m sure the kids will love it,” she said. “You can do this.”
It’s time to share family recipes
Jennifer Clair, founder of the home cooking school Home Cooking New York, said a Zoom Thanksgiving provides the perfect opportunity to share recipes.
“So much of what is important in Thanksgiving is tradition. If there’s family recipe in someone’s home, it’s time for everyone to learn,” she said.
Rather than one person cook their famed mashed potatoes or stuffing for everyone, families on a video call have the opportunity to cook cherished recipes together, with the owner of the recipe leading the class, Clair said.
Clair suggested pie as a dish to make over a Zoom. The recipe is hands-on and you don’t need a lot of equipment. No rolling pin? Use a wine bottle. No pie plate? Make it a galette instead.
Play a game or have an activity
“If anything it will just be a hilarious memory we all have together. ‘Remember when we all FaceTimed for Thanksgiving?’ ... It’s going to be hilarious and noisy. I’m sure the kids will love it. You can do this.” Elizabeth Hooper Will be calling fiance’s family for Thanksgiving
Brooks suggested scheduling at least one activity or game during the call. Try creating a game show online or setting up a scavenger hunt in your house.
If children are on the call, Brooks said, you have to make sure to keep them entertained, too. Having the kids paint pictures of turkeys or doing other Thanksgiving-themed crafts can keep them entertained, she said.
Keep the conversation positive. 2020 has already been enough of a year.
In some families, Thanksgiving dinners feature the occasional awkward remark, tense moment or political argument.
Rather than asking about when someone plans to find a new job or have children, avoid the subjects that are sure to cause tension, Brooks said. Those moments could be further exacerbated by technical difficulties of virtual gatherings.
This year also comes after a particularly divisive election year, too. As much as possible, Brooks said, “keep the chat positive and looking forward to a future that will be bright.”