Turkey...yum! Minus the knives, please. Photo courtesy: TheKohser.

Put the sharp objects away! Lock up the liquor! Family is coming for Thanksgiving dinner - and it could get downright dangerous.

So says Kelly Wallace from IVillage.com – the NBC owned website. And she should know; IVillage.com has been gathering info about the national holiday and its impact on families and has learned that relatives in small doses is great, but a visit extended over an entire day is emotionally taxing – to say the least.

“We expected some form of drama, some number of people to say, ‘Oh my family is coming and we’re expecting some verbal volleys,’ but I don’t think we expected the number,” Wallace explains. “Seven out of 10 women are expecting some sort of turkey squabble before the dessert is served.”

Wallace understands that most people can relate to the findings because of the all too common pressure for perfection.

“You’re doing all the cooking so there is a lot that is going on,” she points out. “Aren’t we all supposed to have that Martha Stewart Thanksgiving? Then you also have family members who don’t spend a ton of time together, spending hours together there at the dining room table. It’s not that surprising that some buttons will be pushed. Then, some people will get on other people’s nerves.”

A few words to the wise: don’t serve booze, keep religion, politics and your personal finances off of your topics of discussion and shut your pie-hole if the dinner stinks.

“We asked what are some of the top reasons for feuds in seasons past,” Wallace recalls. “(The triggers were) eating too much, but also people drinking too much is definitely up there. Then family members have disagreements over money…finances over the food and,” Wallace adds, “do not complain about the food if you didn’t cook it. You don’t have a right to complain. Lastly, a hostess or a host (gets angry) if he or she feels as though they’re doing all the work.”

In other words, mind your manners. Use your head - and really - if you can’t say something nice, suck it up and keep your mouth shut.

Happy Thanksgiving!