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[Kindaglitzy]

On 10/22/2014 PamelaSue72 said:

DH's elderly parents come to our house for all the holidays and for picnics and large family dinners. They are both in their 90s and it's very difficult for them to walk around; we are thankful that they can even come to us for dinner. DH will bring them to our house and then take them back home when they're ready to leave. We did the same for my parents when they were still living. It's important to us that our parents are able to be with us.

So yes, our table has a small centerpiece for the holidays or the dinner and I serve the food on the table. I will not make them get up to walk over to a buffet, nor will I get their food for them from a buffet. They would not want that. I put the food on the table and we all pass around the dishes. Sometimes we hold the bowl of food while they're serving themselves and then continue passing the food to the next person.

That being said, I still try to make the table as inviting as I can. A pretty tablecloth to suit the holiday, a pretty centerpiece, some lit candles, etc.

So no buffet here. I don't worry about it.

It was the same for our family for many years, when there were many elderly members who simply could not navigate a buffet. We always had side tables close by to put the food dishes on that did not fit on the table so was never a problem. Also for variety of reasons buffets that require people to eat off their lap or stand and hold their plate don't work for my family. IMO sort of rude to invite relatives and friends for a major holiday meal and not provide a table to sit at.

[lucymo]

On 10/22/2014 CardinalGirl_ said:

We have a lot of guests for Thanksgiving dinner, so buffet style makes the most sense. Since we're doing buffet, I get really elaborate with my table.

Here is one table from a couple of years ago. Disclaimer: my dining room table is not this long....we also had a plywood table built that butts up against our regular table for Thanksgiving:

Looks very inviting. Love the tablecloth.