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Thanksgiving is only a day away and most Americans have solidified their family plans for the holiday. Whether you’re hosting the big meal or heading to a relative’s house, the holidays are often a chance to reconnect with loved ones. However, Thanksgiving Day isn’t always a family-oriented occasion. Over the years, several studies have found that the seemingly joyous holiday season isn’t always easy for everyone. In a survey conducted by the AARP Foundation in 2017, 31 per cent of respondents said they felt lonely during the holidays throughout the last five years. Meanwhile, 41 per cent of participants were concerned about a family member or friend feeling lonely around the holidays. In 2020, a survey conducted by ValuePenguin also found that 70 per cent of respondents struggled with different types of loneliness before Thanksgiving and Christmas, partly due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. While socially-distanced holiday parties have mostly become a thing of the past since then, there’s still many reasons why some people spend the season by themselves. Some Americans have family members living on the opposite side of the country, or world, while others may not have a close relationship with their relatives at all. There’s no one concrete way to spend the holidays, and everyone has their own reasons why they choose not to see certain people on Thanksgiving. Speaking to The Independent, Emma Mahony, a therapist at Better Life Therapy based in Pennsylvania, acknowledged that, when we spend the holidays alone, our feelings of loneliness can be heightened. While everyone experiences loneliness in a different way, Mahony believes that the feeling could be tied to how Thanksgiving has been portrayed over the years. “I think a lot of the anxieties and concerns that come up have to do with unmet expectations of what you think a holiday is supposed to look like, and what you think your relationship with your family or your friends is supposed to look like,” she said. “I think that’s where a lot of people themselves feel a little bit of a stressful state. Just maybe feeling a little let down by the expectations they have for themselves, after watching other people experience the holidays differently than them.” The holidays are often referred to as the most wonderful time of the year, but that doesn’t ring true for everyone. In some cases, the winter months can be quite a triggering time, and potentially a reminder to people of how they’ve been hurt by those closest to them. According to Mahony, the best way to manage those feelings of animosity is by creating your own perspective about the holidays and new ways to celebrate. “I think you should allow yourself to reframe it as: ‘Okay, how do I want the holidays to look for me? Who are the people that I do want in my life? Who are the people that I don’t want in my life?’” she advised. “Don’t try to make something that shouldn’t happen happen. Instead, recreate your own memories and your own traditions, and give yourself space and permission to do so. But also, if you know that it’s going to be a hard time for you, create that support system, from reaching out to a therapist or to a close friend.” For those who do have a close support system, it can make skipping out on Thanksgiving dinner a little easier. On the other hand, your cousins may miss sitting next to you at the dinner table. Still, Mahony believes we shouldn’t try to convince our family members to attend an event in which they’ve already opted out. “If someone decides they don’t want to be with you over the holidays, respect that choice for them,” she explained. “Don’t make them feel bad for prioritising themselves and their needs. [It] will potentially, you know, make things worse long term. I just honour that everyone needs to do what’s best for them, whether that be financially, emotionally, or physically.” Even if you decide to celebrate Thanksgiving this year without your family, it doesn’t mean that you’re entirely on your own. Mahony suggested setting up a Zoom call or FaceTime with some friends, or planning a fun meal if you’re worried about eating solo. “You could really do whatever you want, so I would set up things for yourself to look forward to,” she said. For those who are spending the holiday alone, but still want to take part in Thanksgiving-related activities, spend the morning or afternoon at a local homeless centre. You can continue the day by hosting a Friendsgiving dinner or movie night with your pals who are still in town. When it comes to food, you can cook a mini turkey for one or ditch Thanksgiving dinner altogether and order take-out at a local restaurant. Then, close out the night with some early Black Friday shopping online or in person. Although this Thursday is indeed a federal holiday, who says the day can’t feel like any other? Ultimately, how you spend Thanksgiving is entirely up to you and there’s no right or wrong way to celebrate the holidays. Remember that you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself for avoiding family during the holiday season. “If Thanksgiving looks different for you year after year, that’s okay. There’s not a specific way to spend the holidays and no family looks the same,” Mahoney said. “If you’re coming to terms with the fact that being with your family for the holidays isn’t what’s best for you, give yourself a little bit of compassion there. “It will get easier over the years, as you figure out how to take care of yourself better.”

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Not only is Robert De Niro one of Hollywood’s most famous actors, but he’s also a father to seven children. The Killers of the Flower Moon star, 80, is currently facing a $12m lawsuit over accusations of “severe emotional distress and reputational harm” brought against him by his former assistant, Graham Chase Robinson. During a heated trial in New York federal court, De Niro admitted to “berating” Robinson and calling her a “f***ing spoiled brat”, before shouting “shame on you” at her inside the courtroom. Robinson worked as De Niro’s vice president of production and finance between 2008 and 2019, before she quit over reported clashes with his girlfriend, Tiffany Chen. The Taxi Driver star recently became a father of seven when he and Chen welcomed their daughter, Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro, in April. De Niro revealed the baby news in an interview with ET Canada, when he corrected a reporter who said he had six children. “Seven, actually,” he said. “I just had a baby.” Speaking to Page Six, De Niro maintained that the pregnancy was planned. “How could you not plan that kind of thing?” he said. As the $12m lawsuit filed by his former assistant puts De Niro’s personal life in the spotlight, much attention has been focused on his extensive family tree. Here’s what to know about De Niro’s seven children and their mothers. Drena De Niro In 1976, the Oscar winner married his first wife, Diahnne Abbott, after they met on the set of director Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver. He adopted Abbott’s daughter, Drena, from a previous relationship. Drena was born in 1971, and took the actor’s last name when her mother and step-father were married. She became a model, but later followed in De Niro’s footsteps when she decided to pursue acting. Drena has appeared in several of her father’s films, including Showtime, Wag the Dog, City by the Sea, and The Intern. In 2003, she welcomed her son Leandro De Niro Rodriguez with her then-boyfriend, Carlos Mare. In July 2023, Drena announced that Leandro had died at age 19. She shared a picture of Leandro on Instagram with a caption paying tribute to his life. “My beautiful sweet angel,” she wrote. “I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly. You have been my joy, my heart and all that was ever pure and real in my life.” She continued: “I wish I was with you right now. I wish I was with you. I don’t know how to live without you but I’ll try to go on and spread the love and light that you so made me feel in getting to be your mama. “You were so deeply loved and appreciated and I wish that love alone could have saved you,” Drena concluded the post. De Niro later issued a statement saying he was “deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo”. “We’re greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo,” the statement continued. The New York City chief medical examiner’s office confirmed one month later that Leandro had died of an accidental drug overdose. Raphael De Niro Raphael is the second child of De Niro and Abbott. He was born on 9 November 1976, the same year his parents tied the knot. He strayed away from the family business and decided to pursue a career in real estate. According to his website, he is a broker at Douglas Elliman and launched the De Niro Team with the real estate firm in 2004. Some of his celebrity clients include Renee Zellweger and Kelly Ripa. He shares three children with his ex-wife, Claudine De Matos, who he married in 2008. They separated in 2015 and finalised their divorce in January 2020, per Page Six. He went on to marry stylist Hannah Carnes in March 2020. Julian and Aaron De Niro Following his divorce from Abbott in 1988, De Niro went on to date actor Toukie Smith. While the pair were never married, they welcomed twin sons Julian Henry and Aaron Kendrick in 1995. Julian also followed in his father’s footsteps, appearing in the 2016 film In Dubious Battle and portraying a young Barack Obama in the Showtime historical drama series, The First Lady. Elliot De Niro Perhaps De Niro’s longest relationship was with actor Grace Hightower, who he married in 1997. She gave birth to their first child together, a son named Elliot, in 1998. In March 2019, the Silver Linings Playbook star revealed his son had been diagnosed with autism. De Niro and Hightower soon became involved in a legal battle when he filed for divorce in 1999 and sued her for custody of their son in 2001. However, the two reunited and called off their divorce in 2004. The couple renewed their vows in November that year in upstate New York, surrounded by A-list celebrities like Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep, and Ben Stiller. Helen Grace De Niro In December 2011, the former couple welcomed their second child, daughter Helen, via surrogate. De Niro and Hightower separated in November 2018 after more than 20 years together. Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro De Niro became a father of seven when he and girlfriend Tiffany Chen welcomed daughter Gia Virginia on 6 April 2023. In an interview with Gayle King for CBS Mornings, Chen revealed that she was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy after giving birth to their daughter. Bell’s palsy is a neurological disorder that temporarily paralyses one side of the face, causing it to appear droopy and lopsided. Speaking to The Guardian in October, De Niro revealed that Chen does most of the “heavy lifting” when raising their six-month-old daughter. When asked if fatherhood ever “gets easier” after being a parent for quite some time, De Niro admitted that it doesn’t but praised his partner for her support. “It doesn’t get easier,” he said. “It is what it is. It’s okay. I mean, I don’t do the heavy lifting. I’m there, I support my girlfriend. But she does the work. And we have help, which is so important.” De Niro also explained how his relationships with his older children are different from his younger children. “With a baby, it’s different to with my 11-year-old. My adult children. My grandchildren. It’s all different,” he said. “I don’t talk to the adult children the way I talk to my baby, or the way I speak to my 11-year-old, though she’s pretty smart.” Read More Maria Menounos felt like she was ‘going to explode inside’ due to pancreatic cancer Mom explains how to raise your first baby like it’s your third Emilia Clarke feared being fired from Game of Thrones after brain haemorrhage Maria Menounos felt like she was ‘going to explode inside’ due to pancreatic cancer Mom explains how to raise your first baby like it’s your third Emilia Clarke feared being fired from Game of Thrones after brain haemorrhage

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