How to deal with a control freak?

How do I do a seating arrangement without looking like a control freak?

• The family is having Thanksgiving at my house again, and I am seriously considering doing a seating arrangement this time, but I don't want to be accused of micromanaging Thanksgiving. The last several times I've hosted family dinner parties, I or a few other adults are left to sit at the kids table or stranded at a side table with nobody to talk to. I simply don't have the room to seat everyone at the same table (usually there's more than 20 of us). I have tried to get the teens and young adults to sit at a separate table with a gentle suggestion, but I am usually ignored because they don't want to be sat at a "kids table". I have also tried to put a kids table together for the children, but the parents seat them at the main table so they can be supervised better. To be honest, I'd like to be able to eat Thanksgiving with my husband and other adults, as the host (who has cooked the meal and waited for everyone else to get their food before sitting down) would like to be able to do? So... does anyone know how I can do a seating arrangement without looking like a control freak? How do I separate the groups without alienating anyone?

• Answer:

  Take control to maximize the enjoyment of your guests. If the parents insist on being with their kids then they can sit at the kids table. There is nothing wrong with separating the ages. Do you have room for 3 tables for the teens, adults and the kids? Put place cards at each setting so it is obvious who sits where. When it is time to sit down, ask everyone to find their place. Then you don't have to try and herd people to different tables, it will be obvious. Good luck.