Thinking of a tradition in my family that surrounds food is incredibly hard. There are seven of us, my mom and six younger siblings, and it is rare if we eat at the same time, let alone same things. In fact, I am one of the only people who even uses the dining table and I use it infrequently. It is easy to say then, that our only food tradition would have to be thanksgiving.
My mom is a great cook. I tell her all the time that the only reason I will visit in later years is so that she will cook for me. She has a full-time job and usually just wants to come home and sleep, but sometimes, usually weekends, she will make a feast for us kids. Thanksgiving is an entirely different story. Mom doesn't ask for much help in the kitchen, if ever, so generally speaking, she does all of the cooking. Potatoes, gravy, corn, casserole, yams, several pies, different types of rolls, and of course the turkey. Dinner is something she takes great pride in. It breaks her heart whenever she runs out of time to make something and has to buy it from the store.
Thanksgiving is one of the several times we all sit down to eat together. Sometimes my grandparents, or family friends, will join us as well. Family dinners are something looked forward to probably only for the food. Though we love each other, I have never experienced a family dinner in which there was not an argument among my sisters. It hurts to see my mom's attempt at family unity fall to petty bickering, but usually, the arguing is in good humor and does not escallate too much.
I imagine one day, when we are all older, the fighting will only get worse, but I know that no matter what, we will come together on Thanksgiving in a show of our unconditional love for one another and our Mom.
