The great Turkey Day debate

Kathy

To go home for Thanksgiving or not to go home for Thanksgiving?

That is the question many of you may be faced with this time of year. It's not always an easy decision. For some strange reason, with the wrap-up of the elections earlier this month, I am going through debate withdrawal . So I'm opening up this topic for debate, and I'll start with a couple of my personal arguments on either side. Please feel free to chime in with your own opinions on the matter.

Point: Get thee to mom and dad's house
Come on. You KNOW you want to go home, because who doesn't love mom and/or dad's cooking? All that turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, etc., etc., etc. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Often the siblings and other extended family members come over as well, making it an official family event — and you'd hate to miss out on the memories and photo ops! There's nothing like sitting around the table with the people who mean the most to you, and then crowding into the living room to fall asleep watching football. There's a reason that the days around Thanksgiving are usually the busiest travel days of the year  — it's a great holiday to be with family, and you don't want to miss it!

Counterpoint: Save the dough and wait for winter break
Come on. First, you've been living on your own for a while now, and what better way to show your personal independence than by staying at school and creating your own holiday traditions? Why not invite some of the international students over and show them what American Thanksgiving traditions  are all about? Second, if you live more than a few hours away from home, it doesn't really make sense to go through all the planning, packing, driving and/or flying that might be involved for just a couple days! Have you seen the airports over Thanksgiving?!? And finally, you'll probably have the chance to go home in about a month during the winter break, so why not just save your money over Thanksgiving and tell the 'rents you'll see them soon?

So that's what I came up with — what are your thoughts? (And, for full disclosure, I ALWAYS went home for Thanksgiving...)