Thanksgiving is a time for family, love, and gratitude, but what happens when your spouse wants to celebrate with her late husband’s family? One man found himself in this exact predicament and is now questioning if he’s in the wrong for refusing to attend. Let’s dive into this emotionally charged story and find out what’s really going on.
Wife’s Past and Present ️

A Shrine in Their Home

Thanksgiving at Late Husband’s Family’s House

Supporting Connections and Relationships

First Time Experience: Awkward but Kind

Feeling Out of Place

This Year’s Dilemma

An Invitation and a Suggestion

Wife’s Response ️

A Pledge to Late Husband’s Family

The Reluctant Husband

A Thanksgiving Tradition or Time to Move On?
Our protagonist is caught in a Thanksgiving dilemma – his wife wants to continue celebrating the holiday with her late husband’s family, while he’d prefer to spend it with his own family. Last year, he went along with her wishes, but this year he’s standing his ground, feeling it’s time to move forward. His wife, however, has pledged Thanksgiving to her late husband’s family and believes he should support her as her current husband. Is he being unreasonable, or is it time for a change? Let’s see what the internet thinks of this situation…
Reframing Thanksgiving as time with kids’ grandparents could help

NAH. It’s important for the boys to see their family , but you can opt-out .

Encourage kids’ relationship with late husband’s family

Widower advises accepting wife’s late husband’s family on holidays

Supporting stepchildren’s relationship with late husband’s family is important

YTA for calling it weird and morbid. Understand the importance. ❤️

Conflicting feelings about wife’s late husband’s family Thanksgiving tradition

Maintaining a relationship with stepchildren’s family is important. YTA.

Navigating blended families during holidays can be awkward

Putting the kids first, even if it’s uncomfortable.

Maintaining relationship with ex-in laws, but not on holidays. NTA.
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Joining wife’s late husband’s family on Thanksgiving: NTA

Step-parent refusing to spend Thanksgiving with step-children’s grandparents

Don’t marry a widow if you’re not ready to blend families

Don’t be an a**hole to your widow wife’s family
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NAH- Wife wants kids to spend time with late husband’s parents

Put aside your pride and spend Thanksgiving with her family

Stepdad’s refusal to attend Thanksgiving with wife’s late husband’s family.

Wife’s late husband’s family is still family. YTA.

NAH commenter advises honesty and compromise with wife’s family

YTA for not wanting to spend time with your wife’s family

Respectful NTA comment advises broken record approach for uncomfortable situation.
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User defends man’s decision to skip Thanksgiving with wife’s late husband’s family.

Validating feeling of being discounted. NTA

NTA for not forcing wife to choose, but future plans unclear.

Engage with your stepchildren’s grandparents, YTA if you don’t

Spouse hesitant to spend Thanksgiving with late husband’s family

Man’s ex-wife excluded his late wife’s family, but he remains close

Blended family woes: YTA for not trying to blend in

Navigating uncomfortable in-laws during holidays, compromise suggested.

Divided loyalties: navigating family dynamics during the holidays

Putting your own discomfort above your wife’s family is selfish

Suggests hosting Thanksgiving at home for wife’s late husband’s family

Engage with your wife’s late husband’s family, YTA.
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/9c749469-c805-47f0-a9cc-c1b395ea140c.png)
Understanding the complexity of grief and family dynamics

Compromise needed for fair holiday traditions with blended families

Accepting new family members after a loss is beautiful

Stepdad’s Thanksgiving dilemma: prioritize stepkids or late husband’s family?

Fair point, alternate years with each other’s families

Engaging in-laws debate on Thanksgiving plans with ex-family.

Respectful husband declines Thanksgiving with late husband’s family

Spouse’s loyalty to late husband’s family vs new husband’s feelings

Compromising on Thanksgiving traditions for blended family harmony

Stepfather refuses Thanksgiving with late husband’s family. Mixed opinions.

Grieving stepkids have a right to see their family. YTA.

NTA. Partner should find new balance for new family.

Supportive comment encourages wife to take kids to paternal grandparents

Curious commenter questions if future kids will attend late husband’s family.

Respectful and reasonable request for Thanksgiving with late husband’s family. NTA

Navigating grief and remarriage is complicated

Suggests wife should host Thanksgiving with both families to avoid discomfort

Choosing to skip Thanksgiving with wife’s late husband’s family. YTA.

Compromise by alternating holidays to spend with respective families

Compromise suggested for spending holidays with late husband’s family

NTA. Suggests visiting ex-in-laws on their birthdays instead
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/5463bb52-fcf1-421c-a96b-ae825c60dd0a.png)
Navigating family dynamics can be tough, but NAH in this case

Choosing between family loyalty and personal comfort
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Thanksgiving dinner for two is more relaxing

Couple should respect each other’s holiday plans and past relationships.

NTA. It’s okay to decline the invitation and prioritize your comfort

User calls out man for refusing Thanksgiving with in-laws

Stepfamily dynamics during holidays, NTA for declining invitation ♂️

New husband declines Thanksgiving with late husband’s family

Setting boundaries after wife’s late husband’s family Thanksgiving request

Blended family Thanksgiving traditions for the sake of children

Blending families is tough, requires effort from all sides

Step up and be a good step-parent. #YTA

Putting the new husband first is reasonable. NTA

Navigating complex family dynamics during the holidays
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/147b8e86-e150-4a79-baaf-fb311bfb61f9.png)
Divide and conquer: Spend time with your family, let them too.

Accepting new family can bring more love and support ❤

Thanksgiving is a family holiday, YTA for not going.
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/9d9fb7f8-a7ed-41d6-874b-28cb95ef6754.png)
Navigating awkward family dynamics, communication is key. NAH

Choosing not to spend Thanksgiving with late husband’s family. NTA.

Spending Thanksgiving with late husband’s family: NAH or AH territory?

Moving on after loss is hard, but necessary. #NTA

Wife’s shrine to late husband raises concerns about moving on.

New family, new rules. Let’s move on a little bit.
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/003b6125-6ab2-4827-954a-18d10ac4d1ab.png)
Single woman supports man’s decision to skip Thanksgiving with wife’s late husband’s family.

Polite NTA declines Thanksgiving with late husband’s family. Family dynamics considered.

NTA stands up against unreasonable Thanksgiving tradition with late husband’s family ♂️

New family, new traditions. NTA for refusing Thanksgiving with ex-inlaws

Stepmother’s refusal to join Thanksgiving with late husband’s family. YTA.

Keeping family ties is important, consider spending a holiday together

Stepdad attends late husband’s family gatherings, it’s not weird

Dividing holidays with late husband’s family: NAH suggests ordinary conversation.
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/aba6bbf8-d6c0-438e-9d0e-fdaa8c833838.png)
Options for Thanksgiving rotation to support everyone’s needs

Last Updated on February 16, 2024 by Diply Social Team