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Jim Gaffigan's Kid Rule: No Snacks Before Thanksgiving!
27 Nov
Summary
- Jim Gaffigan's mom enforced a strict 'no food before dinner' rule.
- He finds parenting teenagers challenging, comparing it to show business.
- Gaffigan aims for a less strict Thanksgiving with his own five children.
Comedian Jim Gaffigan reminisced about a strict Thanksgiving rule from his childhood: no eating anything before the celebratory dinner. His mother enforced a "starved by Thanksgiving" policy, forbidding snacks and kitchen access. In contrast, Gaffigan, now a father to five children with his wife Jeannie, plans a more lenient approach to holiday meals.
Reflecting on fatherhood, Gaffigan humorously described children as "evil" and parenting as a potential "failure." He likened the experience to the entertainment industry, filled with humiliation and the need to bite one's tongue. He noted that while younger children's misbehavior can be cute, teenagers often exhibit an unintentional cruelty.
Getting teenagers out of bed or motivated presents its own set of challenges, Gaffigan noted. He described the balancing act of parenting as a complex game involving potential blackmail, motivation, or even "going full crazy." He emphasized maintaining a sense of self-respect while navigating these parental hurdles.
