This Thanksgiving themed segment comes with a *bonus* game we like to call "Find the Turkey." (Hint: it's wearing a pink shirt.) Laugh as the Dads flail with scissors while they try to go all Martha Stewart. Pass the stuffing while the guys dole out some holiday survival tips. It's all gravy when you got home court advantage, if not it's cool, Dadlabs has got your back. Take a break, take a vacation, and check out Daddy Clay and Daddy Brad as they breakdown the pie and talk that turkey. DadLabs Ep. 217 The Lab.

 

DADDY BRAD: Welcome back to the Lab, I’m Daddy Pilgrim.

DADDY CLAY: And I’m Daddy Native American.

DADDY BRAD: That’s right, this week we are talking about that most unique of American holidays. Thanksgiving.

DADDY CLAY: And we’re thankful for this chance to carve off a few juicy slices of advice on surviving Thanksgiving with kids. Have some corn.

DADDY BRAD: Thanks, now get off my land.

DADDY CLAY: Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.

DADDY BRAD: Where do you think you’re going?

DADDY CLAY: Traveling with your family on Thanksgiving? Are you nuts? Busiest travel day of the year? Delays and lost bags are up.

DADDY BRAD: Visualize yourself in the security line with your kids and your carry ons...and everybody’s got their shoes off. Chaos.

DADDY CLAY: Do absolutely whatever you can, call in whatever chips you’ve got, to have Thanksgiving at your place. Home field advantage is huge.

DADDY BRAD: If there were an AP poll for kid’s favorite holidays, do you thing Thanksgiving would even crack the Top 25?

DADDY CLAY: Other than missing school, what’s in it for the kid? Semi-strange people and food. On the TV, Squarepants replaced by tight pants.

DADDY BRAD: As grown-ups, we’ve kind of grown to like Thanksgiving. So how are we going to get kids on board?

DADDY CLAY: Now we’re not advocates of changing holiday traditions, or building events around the needs of the kids. They have to learn to adapt. At the same time, taking steps to keep the kids (particularly kids under 5) comfortable can avoid those meltdowns that bum everybody out.

DADDY BRAD: Kids are creatures of habit. Turkey day will go most smoothly if you keep to regular meal and nap times as much as possible. This is easier to manage if you have home field advantage. If you’re playing on the road, bring a tub of a favorite food, like mac and cheese, just in case there’s nothing familiar on the holiday table. Be subtle adding this to the kiddos plate and nobody will mind.

Some families go formal for Thanksgiving. Don’t break with tradition, but do set a reasonable time limit for wearing the fancy duds and bring something comfy to change into.

DADDY CLAY: For kids, Thanksgiving can drag on like a stretch at Sing-Sing. So it’s not a bad idea to rig up a couple of projects for the kids to do. Speaking of Sing-Sing, I’m not going all Martha Stewart here, but we do have a couple ideas that can keep the little kids entertained long enough for you to get a peek of the game. First idea, a scavenger hunt for a center piece. Pieces of moss, colorful leaves, cool sticks, whatever, as long as it’s not dog poop you can make a center piece out of it and the kids will be charged up. Second idea, have the kids make their own place mats. Take a big piece of construction paper -- they can put a list of the things they’re grateful for -- this can make for cute, or really awkward dinner conversation. They can also decorate by making these little turkeys. They just have to trace their hands, and add beaks of feathers. Both of these projects can easily be subbed out to a gullible aunt of young cousin. Bring the raw materials and the idea, find the right mark and before you know it you’ve got an hour watching the ‘Boys whip the crap out of the Jets.

DADDY BRAD: Now, if you don’t have to drive, one way to stay sane on Thanksgiving, and take the edge off is to have a little glass of wine. To talk to us about holiday wines, out in-house wine snob, Daddy Clay.

DADDY CLAY: With apologies to Gary Vaynerchuk. People say that because of the turkey and dressing, that Thanksgiving is hard to pair with wine, but I think they’re over-thinking it. As long as you stay away from big reds, you’ll be fine. But if you like big reds have one.

DADDY BRAD: So have a glass of wine and you’ll be less likely to blow a gasket when junior starts to scale grandma’s breakfront.

DADDY CLAY: Excuse the serious moment, but we at the DadLabs would like to take this chance to say that we are extremely grateful to be Dads.

DADDY BRAD: We’re grateful for every minute we spend with our families, and grateful for their support of this whole goofy online TV enterprise.

DADDY CLAY: We’re also thankful to you, oh loyal dadlabs viewer. And we hope that you have a happy thanksgiving with your family.

DADDY BRAD: Happy Thanksgiving!

DADDY CLAY: That’s all for us, here from the Lab.