Thanksgiving is a time for Americans to come together and celebrate; it’s a holiday that many look forward to all year. But this year, some Americans are feeling more anxiety than anticipation, as fallout from this bitter and divisive election continues to create conflict between friends and loved ones all over the country. We asked you to tell us how you’re planning to cope with the political divide in your family this holiday season. Here are 10 of your stories.

‘Happy Holidays, America. You elected a sociopath’

My sister, daughter, daughter-in-law, Mom and I are all ardent feminists who voted for Clinton. My father is a diehard Republican who gets his news from Bill O’Reilly and is a true Clinton-hater. If my Dad starts in, I will probably blow up. I asked Mom to tell him there is a moratorium on politics but we’ll see how that goes. Happy Holidays, America. You elected a sociopath, a sexist, a racist, tax evader, adulterer, draft dodger, predator, hater and loose cannon TV personality. Good times. – Bette, Missouri

‘I plan on wearing a Pussy Grabs Back T-shirt’

I am from Tennessee and have not been home for Christmas in five years. I know my mother voted for Trump and probably my aunts, uncles, grandparents and a few of my cousins too. Trump is everything that my mother and family raised me not to be. How am I supposed to look them in the eye and exchange pleasantries when all I can feel is betrayal?

How am I supposed to look them in the eye and exchange pleasantries when all I can feel is betrayal?

I want to hand out packets of documented displays of post-election hatred and make them see that they are responsible in part for this. Their vote made this happen. I want them to feel the pain of the consequences from their selfish vote the way I feel the pain and anxiety of walking down the street as a woman, or for my racially diverse and gay friends who have a much greater chance of being the victim in a hate crime. I plan on wearing a “Pussy Grabs Back” T-shirt for the family dinner so they can’t forget they voted for a sexual predator. I plan on carrying pepper spray and a blade while walking publicly around in a red state, because as a woman I am legitimately afraid to be around a majority that elected this terrifying man. – Elise, California

‘I’m making donations in their names to non-profits’

Politics has been a divisive topic in my family since I was a teenager. My last political confrontation happened when my brother insisted that Obama declared he was Muslim on TV – obviously untrue, but he was 100% convinced and could not be told otherwise. I come from a working-class minority family. My extended family is multiracial and I have many LGBTQ relatives. And yet, many of my family members are Trump supporters. I tried to tell them what a vote for Trump meant, but I could not convince them.

I have a ticket to fly home to visit them for Thanksgiving, but I’m starting to think that I should stay in New York this year. For Christmas, I’ve decided to make donations in their names to non-profits that support education, equal rights, reproductive rights, veterans and civil liberties. – Nichole, New York

‘I don’t know if it’s safe for me to go home for the holidays’

As a trans man, Trump’s win frightens me. His stated positions and his political appointments deeply worry me, and I have many concerns about the impact his administration will have on the lives of me and my friends. Due to the uptick on harassment of minorities, I was debating if it was safe to go home to the midwest for the holidays. After seeing my older brother elated for Trump’s win on Facebook and seeing him insult people who use government assistance (like our mother did when we were growing up), I’ve decided to spend the holidays with friends. – E, Massachusetts

I am a sexual assault survivor and it made me sick that my family would support a man who brags about assaulting women

‘I won’t be coming home for any holiday in the foreseeable future’

My parents voted for Trump. I spent a very emotional afternoon on the phone begging them not to. I am a sexual assault survivor and it made me sick that they would support a man who brags about assaulting women. I have told them that I will not being coming home for any holiday in the foreseeable future. We have not spoken since. – K, Georgia

‘Are politics more important than family?’

The morning after the election was the beginning of my sadness. My husband whom I love dearly, voted for Trump. We still can’t talk about it. If we did, we might acknowledge ideals that are irreconcilable. Are politics more important than family? I hope not. Ideals can make a person very lonely. Lately, we continue as if nothing’s changed. We make tea and coffee and chat about plans for the day.

We will travel down south to “red country” to celebrate Thanksgiving with family we love dearly. They also voted for Trump. And we won’t talk about it. The differences in our political ideologies and the ways in which to make our country great again, will most likely never be agreed upon. So we will talk about the kids and weddings and universities and football and cats and dogs and busy ourselves with cooking and eating and playing gin rummy and spoons and give each other fierce hugs and tell each other “Love ya.” And we will go around the table, taking turns to say what we are thankful for this year. And I will say: “I am thankful for my husband and my family.” – J, Texas

‘I don’t think of my dad’s house as my home any more’

Last time I was home, my Dad looked me in the eye and said Trump wasn’t racist, and the “racist” things I accused Trump of saying were simply true. I knew then that I wouldn’t be coming home much any more. I won’t be going home for the holidays this year. In fact, I don’t know the next time I’ll visit him or the rest of that side of my family. To be honest, I don’t think of my dad’s house as my home any more. I’ve made my own home; I’ve made my own family with people who share my values and respect my voice. If I’ve learned anything this past week, it’s that there is no room in my life for hateful people, no matter their blood relation to me. – KF, Utah

There is no room in my life for hateful people, no matter their blood relation to me

‘My entire family are Republicans, except me’

My entire family are Republicans, except me. They are elated by Trump’s election; they are thrilled to have won. As for me, I would have been disappointed to lose to a Republican, but I’m devastated to lose to a demagogue. As a gay man, the thought of a president who has said hateful things about almost every minority group terrifies me. I feel as if our country has been lost. I have never felt this level of despair about an election in my life. The thought of returning home to New Jersey for the holidays makes me sick to my stomach. I’ve been thinking of vacations I could take to give me an excuse to skip the holidays altogether. – SR, Pennsylvania

‘We’re taking a family break to heal’

I decided to cancel the big Thanksgiving meal this year. After the election, my conservative friends and family – who I’ve never talked politics with – came out of the woodwork to show me new levels of disrespect with their gloating messages about Trump’s win. We’re taking a family break to heal these wounds before Christmas. – Ryan, Indiana

‘We came up with excuses to keep to ourselves’

Discussing Trump with family isn’t happening. My family loves him – and they didn’t just vote for him because they believe he’ll bring back manufacturing jobs or help globalization, they also voted for him because they think black and brown people are “dangerous” and “lazy”, they don’t believe climate change is real, and are convinced “PC culture” and the “gay agenda” are destroying the US. I’m summarizing but not exaggerating. Nothing my husband or I say has made a dent in their opinions, and I don’t expect that to change after this election. So this Christmas we came up with excuses to keep to ourselves. – Steve, Pennsylvania