I recently married the love of my life, Robert, and was excited to host our first Thanksgiving as newlyweds in our new home. We invited both our families-my parents and siblings, as well as his-and I was eager to create a warm and joyful celebration. Robert’s mother, however, took a particular interest in the

organization of the dinner. When my MIL said she’d ‘bring some order’ to our first Thanksgiving dinner together, I thought she was offering to assist with the dishes or the cleanup. But yesterday, she showed up with printed copies of her ‘Family Code of Conduct, coldly insisting my family read and sign it before attending. My heart sank when
I read her 6 rules.
1-No Phones Allowed at the Table: Phones are strictly banned during dinner to “encourage genuine connection.” with a designated basket for device collection at the door.
2- Pre-Approved Conversation Topics:
Guests must stick to a pre-approved list of “safe and uplifting topics,” such as favorite childhood memories or holiday traditions, avoiding anything she deems too personal or negative.
3- Mandatory Gratitude Statements: Each
guest must prepare and share a heartfelt “What I’m Thankful For” speech before the meal, with a suggested minimum length of 2 minutes.
4- A rule against bringing “unvetted dishes,” requiring approval of recipes beforehand.
5- A strict “one speaker at a time” rule
for dinner conversations, likening it to
“a respectful debate club.”
6- A designated end time for the event, because “lingering too long can lead to conflict.