osbasso

While it’s not as ‘big’ as coming out, my family has been using Thanksgiving dinner (usually during post-dinner wine) to spill the various secrets of our youths. Mom has always prided herself on knowing everything her children did through their high school years. It’s wonderful to watch her spit wine across the table when one of us drops some sort of a bombshell she wasn’t aware of!

  Alfie

I keep my dirty laundry in the cupboard with the skeleton.

  Modernswinger

I guess I would have to say it’s probably a bad time. You’ve got too many people there to address their own thoughts very well. If it’s a big bombshell I would say that you would be better off doing it one at a time or at least in small groups where people feel comfortable talking and asking you about whatever it is that you are announcing. If it’s something sad, like a divorce, I think it’s really a bad thing to bring that into a celebration. I also it depends on the announcement, “Hey family, we are swingers!” is not quite the same as “Hi, I’m gay!” The swinger thing or such might not be something that you want or need to share with the little kids or the grand parents, where as something like your sexuality is a bit more important, so if you do it with a wide audience you don’t get to control who gets told what. That’s just my $0.02

  hubman

Bad time! As I look at the other comments I especially have to agree with Modernswinger.

Kudos to Sadie- I gotta visit her blog and read her account myself. Personally ASM and I would be mortified if any of our parents knew about our blogs, posting nekkid pictures of ourselves, not to mention swinging!

  PC

I see the advantage of telling folks in one spot. But at the same time, family usually assemble to enjoy the time together, to gossip, etc. If you can find a way to make your ‘coming clean’ fit into that theme, then go for it. Air away. But don’t be too serious and don’t stress when family has sharp reactions. Immediately air something about your next closest family member.

  Biscuit

If it’s something that you know will shock people, or possibly get a negative reaction, then I think it’s a bad idea. Jolting someone out of their holiday happiness is bound to exacerbate things. I wouldn’t even do it before the holiday. I’d wait until after so that there is time to absorb things before the next family get together. But I’m a big wuss about stuff like that.:( *LOL*

When my brother told me, right before Christmas, that he and his first wife were divorcing, I was devastated. In between sobs, I begged him not to tell our parents until after Christmas so that it wouldn’t spoil things. He’s not one to sit on things, and it turned out alright.

  Bunny

If it is something that is going to upset one or more folks at the gathering, I think it is best to save your “big news” for another time. Otherwise the whole family will forever associate that holiday with the “bad” news you delivered. I think something that will be shocking or surprising to the family should first be discussed with the most open-minded person in the family and then work your way up to the person who will be most shocked or upset. That way you’ve had plenty of practice and you haven’t sprung it on them in front of “everyone.” Keep it simple and low-key is my motto. That or “keep your mouth shut and just go along to get along.” LOL

  Chef Troll

Don’t thing it’s a real good idea.

  Elle

Yup, what modernswinger and bunny said. I especially like bunny’s idea of starting with the most open-minded person in the family. There are definitely things I’d be more comfortable telling, say, my brothers, than my parents.

As for my blog and our kinks? None of their business, in my opinion. Maybe if I was “outed” as Elle from KinkUnleashed, then I’d have to tell them. I addressed this a while back in one of my posts.

  The Duchess

I would at the very least wait until the dinner is over, not at the beginning so it affects the whole meal.
I can appreciate why everyone is saying “no” but really, sometimes there are no “good” times to give certain kinds of news…

  rage

I don’t think I have aired any dirty laundry quite like in the pictures….wink!

  Vixen

Os- no, that kind of ‘coming out’ is funny and fun. Our family has a tendency to do the same thing. That’s funny. ;)

  Vixen

Alfie- ROFL good idea ;)

  Vixen

Modernswinger- good point. Thank you for sharing your opinion on this. Good take.

  Vixen

Biscuit- “Jolting someone out of their holiday happiness is bound to exacerbate things…”

I totally agree.

  Vixen

Bunny- I like what you said! That’s a great way to do it. :)

And I think it’s important to think about what kind of news you are sharing and how ‘open’ the people you are sharing the news with are.

  Vixen

Elle- yeah…my ex took the pleasure of outing my blog (my old one) to his entire family and then they took the pleasure of ‘sharing it’ with everyone they knew as well. Fun times…let. me. tell. YOU.

*groan*

  Vixen

PC- so…..asking my mom and her boyfriend if they would like to join us in the hot tub orgy….you think Thanksgiving is a bad time?

;)

  Dana

I don’t know …

Families are different and people are different. I wouldn’t want to receive “bad” news (not bad in my eyes, but definitely an issue for some) in a grou setting. Take me aside – one on one – and let me know ahead of time. Then I can adjust and will better be able to support you.

For the record, my family is oblivious to my sexuality and my life in general, but that has been somewhat by design.