Successfully navigated Thanksgiving with both families - here's what worked

Posted this because I was dreading it SO HARD. Last year was a disaster with my ex showing up mad at my parents' place. This year I actually communicated a plan in ADVANCE (wild, I know).

Here's what I did:

• Split the day cleanly: 9am-1pm with my kids at my place, then they went to their mom's family from 2pm on
• Told my ex the plan via email a month early so she couldn't ambush me
• No new partners at my house (she wasn't bringing hers either, had that convo separately)
• Got the kids to help cook actual food instead of just showing up

Kids were happy, no drama, my dad didn't give me side-eye all day. Honestly feels like a win.