I like hanging out in the kitchen with the food. Better conversations come from a roasted turkey imo

Today will be the first day that I'm open about it and my baby is old enough to be taught the motions of praying which i do not want... I'm glad you posted this because I'm not totally sure what to do. It's so silly that it's such a big deal.

This year I am not going to the part of my family that pray before every meal whether is it thanksgiving or not so I don't have to deal with that. When I am with them I do the same thing. I look around the room awkwardly and stay quiet for the duration of their prayer. Thankfully this year I am only having thanksgiving with my immediate family and they don't do any of that and know me as an open atheist.

I'm always respectful of others beliefs. I'll remain silent and hold hands if that's what's going on, but I do not join in the prayer nor say amen when it's finished. I don't believe in any god or messiah but I make sure to be respectful of those that do as long as it doesn't infringe on my right not to participate in their belief system.

growing up thinking each prayer was meant to be private , It was the group prayers around holidays being vocalized outloud that sent me off thinking.. this ain't right, something's not right,...

That's pretty much what I do too. I'll mouth the words to institutionalized prayer rituals just to keep the peace, but not believe a single thing coming out of my mouth.

It's like I tell most people whose families are religious: Just smile and nod in all the right places. Religion is not worth creating a rift in the family over.

I keep my eyes open, scanning the room for any other "friends".

LOL..."look around the room awkwardly"

I do the same... I just patiently wait for everyone to say what they say. I can be respectful without being reverent. But I don't allow my love and respect for my family/friends dampen my principles when it comes to sharing my viewpoint.
I don't believe in "If you have no thing nice to say, don't say anything at all".
If you want to be in my life you have to endure my lack of belief the same way I endure your beliefs.

same here.i just share a quiet moment with them

When I was young my brother had a friend over from school. We were about to chow and my brother spouts out Darrel and his family always say the blessing before they eat. My Dad without hesitation says 2 4 6 8 who do we appreciate? God, god yea god lets eat damnit. I laughed my ass off. My brother and his friend weren't pleased. Try it to break the tension. Works for Thanksgiving or church league tee ball

"I tend to just ignore it and look around the room awkwardly until it's over."

I also use this tactic, lol

I make faces at them, flip the bird and various other humorous things while their eyes are closed. Lol. That's on the rare occasion I'm even in the room at the time.

I actually excused myself and went to the bathroom. Unfortunately they waited for me. It's really uncomfortable for me now because it's like someone speaking for me and saying things that I disagree with. I really dislike the parts where the person says "we". I just want to say, "not me".
"We thank you Heavenly Father"...No not me but thanks so much to the woman who worked so hard to make this cake.

With my family, we just feast that is all that day is. Albeit you can say my family is barely Christian.

I don't pretend to pray, but will respect other's prayer with silence. As far as thankfulness goes, it doesn't have to be directed to a diety.

My mom told me once to bow my head in respect for those you eat with, but don't close your eyes in submission to what they bealive.

It's no big deal to go along with the family, especially a deeply religious family. these events are defining moments in many families, and they only occur several times a year. believe me, I've been through 45-50 thanksgiving dinners and I've come to the conclusion that my personal ideas sometimes have to take the backseat, and I just tolerate the ride, be respectful.

I do the same. Except now, I am not ashamed.

I don't acknowledge Thanksgiving as a holiday.

I’m also from a very religious family. I usually just go with the motions and hope someone doesn’t ask me something or put me on the spot.

I feel like I either have to fake it or become estranged.

I once had a Jewish girlfriend who wanted me present at her family's Passover. I explained to her beforehand I wouldn't wear the yarmulke because I don't agree with some of the fundamentals of Jewish faith and practice.
To my suprised delight, my girlfriend announced to everyone when we arrived, "He's not wearing THAT and if he has to WE'RE BOTH LEAVING!"

Not only does my religious family do that before holiday meals in somebody's home, we're even expected to hold hands and pray before meals when we go eat at a restaurant. I don't know if it's for show like an act of faith/insecurity thing or what but it's definitely awkward as hell. Like others have said in their comments, I usually bow my head out of respect but don't close my eyes or pray. What's really scary is, my young daughter and her cousins are usually present too and they're being indoctrinated at this young age. I try to do what I can to explain my logic to her but am vastly outnumbered by Christians in my family as well as by her mostly Christian classmates at school.