First meatless Thanksgiving

[Elisabeth]

I've been ovo/lacto for about 6 months now and this is the first time I've had to deal with a large family setting involving food. As far as the food goes, all went just fine. I am sinfully stuffed right now lol! There was more than enough veggies for me to get my paws on.
It was my hubby and father-in-law that gave me trouble. My father-in-law I expected to make a fuss. That's just him. But hubby was totally supportive up until Thursday night. Now he just shakes his head and says I'm being dumb.
I was hoping hubby would be there to help defend me against his father but instead was on his side >.<
The next Thanksgiving dinner is next week - I fully expect it to be a repeat of tonight. Wish me luck

[♥♪Musictarian♪♥]

Major luck, and congratulations on becoming a vegetarian!

[veggielove]

So sorry you aren't getting the full support you wanted, but congrats on standing your ground!!! :-)

[Elisabeth]

Thanks to both of you :)

[ashlend]

I'm sorry your husband is not being supportive. If it happens again, I would take him aside in private later on and just tell him that big family situations like this can be a bit of a challenge for a vegetarian, and having his support would make it a lot easier for you. :)

[das_nut]

Your husband and you are going to learn to compromise.

What that means is up to you as a couple to decide.

If your partner sides with you in private, and sides with his or her family when around them, you have bigger issues in your relationship than vegetarianism.

[Elisabeth]

Honestly I don't get his turn around. We've been together for 10 years and he's always known my views on meat. He comes from a hunting family though he himself doesn't hunt - and doesn't bring their meats into our house. ( I can't stand the thought or rabbit or deer in my freezer)
Up to about 6 months ago the only meat I ate was hamburger. When I told him I'm finding even that hard to swalllow He said he understood and "saw this coming" HE'S the only who found me boca burgers. HE'S the one who found the vegetarian chili mix for me. He was totally on my side.

But Thursday night I didn't get home from work untill 11:30 pm and hadn't eaten all day so he made me dinner (ready for when I got home) Chicken .... uh that qualifies as meat. It's been a non stop argument since then. Every meal I get the "you're being dumb" speech. And "couldn't you wait until after the holidays?"

:whack:

[ashlend]

Wait until after the holidays? WTF? What does he think is going to happen at the holidays next year, and every year after that? :dunce:

You two need to have a serious talk about why this is important to you. You need to make it clear that this isn't just a whim, that it's a permanent change he needs to respect. If he won't, then like another poster said above, you've got bigger issues than vegetarianism.

[sallyomally]

He's probably feeling a bit guilty or it could be that someone's been talking to him. I hope your talk goes well. Hang in there.

[SmilinGreen]

My boyfriend, husband now, was not very supportive at first. So I just started to cook amazing vegetarian dishes and his mind quickly followed his belly. I have been a vegetarian for four years now and he practically is too, except for the occasionally turkey. So there is hope

[janelle]

Ew. I'm sorry about your husband -- that sounds awful.

This will be my first meatless Thanksgiving as well. I've been veg for 7 months, and I am NOT looking forward to it at all. My family likes to make fun of me and call me stupid, so... needless to say, Thanksgiving probably won't be a very fun experience this year or ever from now on. :(

[Elisabeth]

Thanks guys for the replies!
We've talked somemore... ok so I talked and he nodded. I think it's still going to be an issue for a while. The more he realizes this is here to stay and I'm not backing down. We managed to make it through breakfast without a fight. Progress is proress no matter how slow right