Today’s post is taken from an interview with the lovely Sheila Liaugminas.  Visit her site (and view the original article) here: http://www.mercatornet.com/sheila_liaugminas/view/9985

“The Perfect Family Thanksgiving”

We imagine that to be like the famous Norman Rockwell painting so dear to our American culture and tradition, of the multi-generation gamily around the dinner table all dressed with wonderful food and happy faces enjoying the occasion. That’s what other people do, we think, and if we work hard enough we can be that family too.

But the first step to enjoying the best Thanksgiving and any other family dinner is to realize and accept that it will not be perfect. In fact, that ‘perfect’ doesn’t exist, is unrealistic, and it’s okay. And that the best thing you can do for your family is be a loving, calm presence.

So says the wise Dr. Meg Meeker, the popular leading authority on parenting and family issues. We talked today about the holidays and other occasions for anxiety, which for Moms may be just about every day’s schedule. Her experience and insight is warm, encouraging and inspiring.

“Expect nothing,” she says, and you’ll eliminate the stress we all experience when we don’t meet our own perceived…