November 2024 Blog: 10 Things to Talk About Other Than Fertility at the Thanksgiving Table

Thanksgiving is nearly here, bringing together loved ones for food, laughter, and connection. But if you’re navigating the world of fertility, Thanksgiving can also bring awkward questions or conversations you'd rather avoid. To keep things light and festive, we’ve put together 10 fun and engaging conversation topics to shift the focus and keep everyone smiling.

1. Favorite Thanksgiving Memories

Thanksgiving mishaps make for the best stories! Sharing funny or heartwarming memories will help everyone loosen up and get into the holiday spirit.

2. The Best Thing You’ve Eaten This Year

Food talk is always a winner. Ask guests to share their most delicious meal of 2024! Whether it was finally scoring a table at that impossible-to-book restaurant or recreating a viral TikTok pasta recipe, hearing about everyone's foodie adventures will bring some delicious excitement to the table. Has anyone tried the Butter Board craze yet?

3. Dream Travel Destinations

Who doesn’t love dreaming about far-off places? Ask your friends and family where they’d love to go if time and money were no object. You’ll be amazed by the dream vacations that come up, and it might even inspire future family trips! Group trip to Indy for the last stop of the Eras Tour, anyone?

4. Current Obsessions

What’s everyone hooked on these days? Whether it’s catching up on Love is Blind or diving into the wild theories of The Golden Bachelor, there’s no shortage of binge-worthy content to discuss. If someone’s not into TV, maybe they’re still perfecting their Wordle streak. “corer, anyone?!” Whatever it is, you’re sure to get an enthusiastic conversation going.

5. UPCOMING HANUKKAH PLANS

With Hanukkah right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to chat about festive plans! Ask your guests how they’re planning to celebrate—whether it’s making latkes with new twists (like sweet potato or zucchini versions), attending a local menorah lighting, or trying their hand at homemade sufganiyot (doughnuts). You can even swap favorite gift ideas for each night, or talk about fun Hanukkah-themed local events coming up. Will we see you at Jewish Community Night at Zoolights?

6. What You’re Grateful For

Gratitude is the heart of Thanksgiving, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to remind ourselves of the good things in life. Encourage everyone to take a moment and share one thing they’re thankful for this year. It’s a simple yet powerful way to bring warmth to the table.

7. Favorite Childhood Toys or Games

Nothing brings out laughter like reminiscing about the toys we loved as kids. From the Tamagotchis we could never keep alive, to unwrapping a brand-new Nintendo 64 (Super Mario Kart, anyone?), these nostalgic trips down memory lane always lead to big smiles and fun stories.

8. Hidden Talents

Maybe Uncle Danny can do an incredible impression of Ted Lasso, or your cousin has a secret talent for making perfect espresso martinis like the ones taking over Instagram. Asking about quirky talents will reveal some fun surprises—and possibly an impromptu show-and-tell!

9. Biggest Accomplishment This Year

Celebrate the wins of 2024! Whether someone’s finally run a marathon, Marie Kondo-ed their entire house, or just made it through the wild ride of life—cheering each other on is always uplifting. (Bonus points if someone actually tried a TikTok cleaning hack and it worked!)

10. Plans for the New Year

Everyone loves looking ahead. Ask about plans for 2025. Maybe someone’s planning to see the new Wicked movie or finally booking a trip to see the Northern Lights. Talking about exciting goals and dreams for the year ahead will leave everyone feeling inspired and hopeful.

Thanksgiving is all about connecting with those we care about, so keep the conversations light, joyful, and inclusive.

With these 10 fun topics, you’ll easily avoid uncomfortable fertility talk and make space for laughter, memories, and a whole lot of gratitude.

From all of us at Fruitful, we wish you a happy, healthy, and fulfilling Thanksgiving!

Rebecca Weinstein