'AITA for Excluding My Mom's Home Health Aide?' -- Reddit Story | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

A woman is unsure if she should invite her mother's home health aide to Thanksgiving because she doesn't know her well and is concerned it may be awkward for her.

Key Insights

• 🥳 Caregivers often become an important part of a family, and including them in holiday celebrations can strengthen these bonds.
• 👪 It's natural to have reservations about inviting someone you don't know well to a family gathering, but extending an invitation can show kindness and inclusivity.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Prioritizing the comfort and preferences of the home health aide is crucial to ensuring a positive experience for everyone involved.
• 🥰 Holiday gatherings are an opportunity to set aside differences and focus on love, inclusivity, and acceptance.
• 👪 Sharing experiences and stories from others who have invited caregivers to family events can provide valuable perspectives and insights.
• 📽️ It's important to address one's own discomfort and potential social anxiety rather than projecting assumptions onto the caregiver.
• 💄 Extending an invitation without pressuring or making it obligatory can create an inclusive and welcoming environment.

Transcript

okay up next am i the [ __ ] for not wanting to invite my mother's home health aide to thanksgiving i'm 38 female and my mother is 70 female she's been suffering ongoing health issues for some time and has lupus i live out of state and currently can't relocate although i visit her as much as possible she has a home health aide 22 female i've met th... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Should I invite my mother's home health aide to Thanksgiving?

It depends on the relationship you and your family have with the aide. If she has become an important part of your family and caregiving team, it would be a kind gesture to invite her. However, consider her comfort and don't make it obligatory for her to attend.

Q: What if I don't know the home health aide well enough to invite her?

If you don't know her well and it may create an uncomfortable dynamic, it's understandable to have reservations. However, extending an invitation with no pressure would still be a considerate gesture and make her feel included.

Q: Will it be awkward for the home health aide to attend Thanksgiving?

It's possible that the aide may feel out of place or like they're working on Thanksgiving. To avoid this, make it clear that attending is optional and emphasize the relaxed and inclusive atmosphere of the gathering.

Q: What if the home health aide wants to spend Thanksgiving with her baby son instead?

Respect her desire to spend time with her family if she prefers that. Let her know that the invitation is open, but there's no pressure for her to attend if it conflicts with her personal plans.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The woman's mother, who has ongoing health issues, has a home health aide that she wants to invite to Thanksgiving.

• The woman is hesitant to invite the aide because she doesn't know her well and is worried it may be uncomfortable for her, especially since she would be the only one she knows besides the mother.

• The woman feels conflicted as she sympathizes with the aide's situation but also wants to avoid any potential work-like dynamics on Thanksgiving.