# Husband's Thanksgiving Tradition Ends

> New mom questions husband's promise to help with Thanksgiving hosting after baby's arrival.
- Title: Husband's Thanksgiving Tradition Ends · Slate Magazine
- Summary: New mom questions husband's promise to help with Thanksgiving hosting after baby's arrival. A new mother asks if she can skip hosting Thanksgiving with her…
- Keywords: thanksgiving, husband, baby, cleaning, family, hosting, Husband's, Tradition, Ends, Slate Magazine
- Source: Slate Magazine — https://slate.com/advice/2026/09/family-advice-husband-thanksgiving-tradition-newborn.html?via=rss
- Author: Arionne Nettles
- Published: 2026-09-28T10:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: thanksgiving, husband, baby, cleaning, family, hosting
## Hosting Strain
My husband Jake’s extended family of cousins, kids, siblings, nieces, nephews, and parents always gather at our home for Thanksgiving.
## Cleanup Failure
Jake has promised to help with cleanup but never follows through, leaving me to manage the house after the holiday.
## Baby's Arrival
I now have a 6-month-old baby and cannot cook for 20 people and handle cleanup without Jake’s help.
## Husband's Promise
Jake has repeatedly promised to help with cleanup but has never kept his word, making me distrust his commitment.
## Escape Plan
I plan to sneak off with the baby to my sister’s house the night before Thanksgiving to avoid hosting.
## Sister's Support
My sister would likely welcome me and my baby, letting me take a break without worrying about hosting duties.
## Husband's Role
Jake can either join me at my sister’s house or stay home to host the family dinner without me.
## Key takeaway

A new mother asks if she can skip hosting Thanksgiving with her husband's extended family due to his history of not helping with cleanup.