“Don’t Touch My TV”: 44 Thanksgiving Hosts Call Out Behaviors They Can’t Stand From Their Guests

The men folk who don't help do anything to get dinner ready, then sit around afterwards watching the game while all the women clean up.

When people show up.

Our best Thanksgiving was last year when my husband & I were supposed to host & came down with bronchitis & had to cancel the whole shebang. In other words, I’d rather have bronchitis than host Thanksgiving. 😂.

The last time I hosted, my friends' kids were awful (examples: putting things from around my house in the toilet and HITTING MY DOG). I spent so much money on food and decor and table settings, and their kids said my food was gross and refused to eat, so their parents just let them run around my house leaving a path of destruction while we tried to have dinner. When they finally left I broke down crying because they made me feel so fully unappreciated and shat on.

When people show up too early.

I hate it when no one offers to get off their lazy behinds and help clean up.

I have 2 bathrooms for guests, don't go in my bedroom and use my personal bathroom.

The height of entitlement and rudeness to bring groceries and expect to use someone’s kitchen on THANKSGIVING!!!!

Criticisms about food, especially when you brought NOTHING (cue my mother..). “The turkey is over cooked.” “The broccoli casserole needs more salt.” “Did you forget salt in EVERY dish?!” 🤦🏻‍♀️.

The "I just need to heat this up" crowd.

The loitering in the kitchen crowd. If you're not helping, stay out. If you're "helping" stay out. Just stay out. And please, please don't make me take my earbuds out.

Y’all, I have thoroughly loved reading every single comment so far!! This will be the 3rd Thanksgiving that my sister and I will be alone..Thanksgiving was always our favorite holiday and we had such a big family..so many wonderful memories!! I miss those times.. and I miss my family..

Please don’t misunderstand, I am so blessed that I still have my sister..we are in our mid 50’s ..divorced.. but we are happy, healthy and grateful!!

Thanks again for sharing all of these stories..made me remember so many wonderful times with my family…and y’all, for me it’s priceless and means the world 🥰.

One year one of my brother's in-laws made a HUGE deal out of bringing the green bean casserole. She brought the smallest bowl I ever saw for 30 people. She commented, wow, that went so fast, we usually have leftovers (for her family of 2 adults and 2 kids).

Showing up late without the rolls they were supposed to bring. (Parent)
Bratty kids.(sister)
Showing up empty handed except for their to go Tupperware and don’t help serve or cleanup at all. (Sister).

Dang, I never realized how chill my thanksgiving was compared to a lot of other people’s. The host makes a turkey and a ham. Everyone else brings a side dish and/or appetizer and/or dessert. Always plenty of food.

I just tell people to bring drinks. We have an assortment of sodas because unfortunately I drink them like water lol, but I know soda, lemonade, and water aren’t for everyone. I look forward to making the meal every year. This is my Super Bowl. Ain’t no one going to mess this up by bringing something I’m already making lol.

I make it easy for everyone.

I am the host and the chef. This is the menu. Dinner is at T0 and guests are welcome to arrive for cocktails at T-2 hours. Invitations are by individual. RSVP.

I direct contributions to be appetizers, desserts that complement the pumpkin and pecan pies I will have already made (from scratch), and wine of specific menu-appropriate varieties. Individuals' contributions (if any, and if to be relied upon) should serve eight; couples' therefore sixteen, etc. Guests are welcome to address any dietary requirements independently.

The kitchen is not available (absent prior arrangement) and off-limits although spectators are more than welcome. Specific individuals may be deputized temporarily as sous or line (crudite, salad, pastry) chefs or sommelier but otherwise refrain from entering or touching anything absent express instruction else risk severe cuts, burns, spills, or delay, and severe reprimand in any case.

Everyone has a great time, no one complains (not that I care), and they all keep coming back.

Last year I set our meal for 1pm, at 11am my Aunt and Uncle show up. I’m still in my pajamas, the food is all still cooking, I’m vacuuming the floors and I’m crying hysterically because my Mom woke up that morning with the stomach flu and couldn’t come help me.

Please don’t arrive any earlier than 15 minutes before the time on the invitation text I send out. Later is fine. Earlier is always a disaster cause I’m a Last Minute Sally.


Now, my aunt is not much of a cook, and my uncle doesn’t have much of a personality. So it took me a bit to figure out what was happening. When my aunt heard my mom was sick and not coming, she got herself ready and in the car and over to my house so she could sit in the kitchen and be there should I need help. We were never close when I was growing up, but to realize that she came early just in case I needed a Mamas advice means the world to me.

Don’t be coming to the kitchen picking and sampling the food before dinner is served!

My sister-in-law’s yearly contribution… a single can of jellied cranberry sauce. After my mom, sister and I have each spent a ton of money and effort each making multiple dishes.

I had a family member bring Mac and Cheese last year as we have some kids (ok they're actually young adults now) who really enjoy it. They brought gluten free noodles with sauce made from cauliflower. I thought my daughter was going to leave the house in protest. We now refer to it is the "Cauliflower incident of 2022".