@jespah,
Even better, you can buy an already cooked piece of breast and/or dark meat any time of year. When I say piece, I mean it’s big enough for a meal for 3. Also stores sell already made side dishes and breads of many varieties. No cooking, little clean up.
Your father is a grown man. He understands his health status is much different than what it was maybe even a year before. On one hand you say he sleeps in a hospital bed, is in a wheelchair and needs rails to get to the bathroom. He’s got multiple serious health conditions. Yet in the same breath you indicate he’s able to be the lead in cooking some too large bird and all the other trappings. Really, who’s going to end up doing much/most of the work (and dreaded clean up)?
This idea of inviting guests. Not to mention the fact they may very well not be too keen on gathering during this time, why is it your family that has to host? Why not spread the joy and allow someone else experience the thrill of cooking, decorating, cleaning, and coordinating all the other things a holiday gathering involves?
I’m not being a grinch. Gone are the days of over the river and through the woods to grandmothers house we go.
Simpler is better. Don’t assume potential guests will be devastated. The fact is they will more than likely be relieved.
In this day there are obviously so many great alternatives to all the travel, gift buying, prepping, stress and let’s face it, the yearly resentments, guilt, debt and dread.
I’ve seen this time as a way to get back to basics and what truly brings joy. You’ve put so much thought into all the problems and stressors, you’ve forgotten that it’s fine to just let things unfold as they will.
It’s not a choice of “calling off the holidays” and going full Norman Rockwell.
You 3 adults decide together what aspects brings the most joy, and do that within the parameters of the environment you live in. Believe me, other family and friends will be just fine doing what they want to do.
Honestly? Has anyone ever said “I can’t believe we didn’t get invited to so and so’s house. What in the world/how are we going to make it through the day?”
Just maybe the people you would normally invite will be relieved on a deep level they don’t dare talk about they don’t have to participate in the yearly performance of “family get together “