JENKINS TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Turkey, pie, and mashed potatoes are part of many Thanksgiving plans, but there is one thing experts say can certainly be hard to swallow.
Politics can be a tricky topic to navigate, especially after such a contentious election.
Melanie Priebe, certified Psychiatric physician's assistant is preparing for Thanksgiving. Her family has gathered here often to celebrate the holidays and the topic of politics has come up plenty of times.
"It's not that ideal or perfect but these kind of conversations are going to happen," said Priebe.
That will be the case in many households this holiday season. But how do you keep those political conversations civil and stress-free?
"We need to prove that this is possible," Priebe stated.
"It is possible," said volunteer Christina Perks.
Priebe asked volunteers with different political views to sit at her same dining room table and record themselves talking about politics shortly after this year's polarizing general election.
She says to set boundaries before your political conversation starts. If you are, do not want to talk politics, then don't.
"Stick to topics that maybe you all enjoy or memories and things that are really going to reflect the holiday," Priebe explained.
"And for me keep your personal feelings out of it," said Matthew Burnett, a Volunteer.
But if the conversation does arise and gets hotter than the bird in the oven, have someone take the reigns and focus things back to what really matters.
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"And if we want to continue this conversation another day so be it but maybe today isn't the day let's focus on what we have to be thankful for," Priebe continued.
"I'm hoping that my worst fears that I feel might happen don't," Parks added.
Knowing how and when to recognize other's emotions is very important.
"Listening to what someone has to say instead of proving them wrong is the way to actually come together," Priebe said.
It's also important to know when it's time to walk away and go put on a movie.
"Take a breath instead of feeding into the emotions that might be at the table. Everything is going to be okay. We are going to be okay," Priebe continued.
For those of us having difficulty digesting that at the dining room table, Priebe says to keep this in mind.
"We have to agree to disagree and pass the sweet potatoes," Priebe laughed.
Psychiatrists say it is important to remember that while you cannot control other people's opinions, you can control how you respond.
