The Thanksgiving Break Up, aka The Turkey Drop

If you’ve found this article by searching on “Thanksgiving Break up”, or even the looking up the dreaded “Turkey Drop”, you may be in one of two camps: 1) Your boyfriend may have broken up with you around Thanksgiving, and you’re seeking answers, or 2) You are thinking of breaking up with your boyfriend, and you’re seeking support.

The least I can do in this article, is explain why Thanksgiving break ups are more popular than you think. After that, you can decide how to proceed with your life, romantic and otherwise. If it helps, you’re not alone in your turkey drop holiday distress. I remember the horrible feeling of misery and despair after a holiday breakup. I felt worse when others around me were so darn happy!

I was part of an online dating forum on Facebook, and saw hundreds of women going through the Thanksgiving break up turkey drop. I didn’t know whether to be happy or sad to know so many other women dealing with holiday breakups. But I did appreciate having these online friends who didn’t need/want any fake holiday happiness.

So for those of you seeking answers or support, here’s a list of reasons why people break up around Thanksgiving.

Thankgiving Break Ups Avoid Family Stress

Thanksgiving is the gateway to holiday togetherness, and bringing someone home for Thanksgiving often signals that a relationship is serious. If a relationship isn’t serious, one of the parties may decide on a Thanksgiving break up right before the holiday to avoid having to introduce the other to their family. Your boyfriend may not want his family to get their hopes up. Or worse, their family could be a special version of dysfunctional, and your partner didn’t want you to get your hopes up.

New School or Town “Turkey Dump”

Many Thanksgiving break ups (i.e turkey dumps)  happen when a person goes away to college, grad school, or moves to another town. After a few months in a new environment, you may have made lots of new friends, and even started seeing someone in your new school. The adventure of a new life is appealing, and the person from your old life doesn’t have the same appeal that they once used to.

Ability To Break Up In Person During Thanksgiving Holidays

Many college freshman break up during Thanksgiving holidays because both parties are back in their home town, and they have the opportunity to break up in person. While I give extra points for doing the right thing, break ups still suck.

Last Chance Before The Holidays

Thanksgiving is the holiday that heralds Cuffing Season which lasts approximately through St. Patrick’s Day in March. If you know that you’re not interested in spending the holiday season with this person, Thanksgiving is considered the “best” time to do it. This is because Christmas, New Year’s and Valentine’s break ups are BRUTAL.

Sometimes Turkey Dumps Are About Timing

If your relationship had been having issues before now, Thanksgiving often provides the time and space for certain truths to come up. Truths that you can’t deny, like the fact that you’ve been unhappy, and thinking about breaking up for a while. When that happens, the holiday inspires you to make a change, even if you weren’t expecting to do it.

Regardless of what side of a Thanksgiving breakup, or turkey dump you’re on, I recommend that you get a Love Reset, and focus on your needs for the rest of the holiday season:

• Invest in Self-Care
• Don’t Overdo Food and Wine
• Surround Yourself with Friends and Loved Ones
• Forgive Yourself

You can also check out my book, The Love Reset on Kindle.