It’s time to break out those sleeping bags and set the alarms for 4 AM, people; it’s Black Friday…or should I say Black Thursday? The crazy day of “doorbuster” deals and long lines is no longer a one-day event, and it is cutting into precious family time on Thanksgiving Day.

The timing of Black Friday is seemingly perfect; with the Christmas season soon approaching, it makes the sales almost too good to pass up. I am a huge fan of a good deal, but not on a day that is meant to be spent with family and friends, or when I have to wait in excessively long lines with hundreds of other people.

Black Friday is always a big hit with the amazing deals and the adrenaline rush of late-night shopping. The crazy day used to begin early Friday morning, but as the years have passed, stores have begun to open earlier and earlier on Friday, and people have begun going out earlier and earlier on Thursday. The opening times on Thanksgiving are not only ridiculous for the shoppers going out, but also for the employees having to work. The people who choose to go out and shop are making their own decisions and taking away their own family time, but employees have no choice. They should not have to be put in the position of choosing between their job or their family.

Unfortunately, companies are continuing the trend this year of opening on Thanksgiving Day. According to CNBC, many big technology and department stores were open on Thanksgiving last year; some of them were even open all day. For example, Target opened their doors all day on Thanksgiving last year and is continuing to follow suit this year. Target released an advertisement online for their deals, announcing their opening at six o’clock Thanksgiving evening. Along with Target, Walmart, Kohl’s and Dick’s are opening at six o’clock. Corporations have focused a little too much on the money the day brings in, and have lost sight of how the day should really be spent.

Family members who are focusing on coupons, deals and opening times are taking away from the meaning of Thanksgiving Day. If everyone is worried about what time they need to leave to get the best spot in line, no one is going to be valuing the time they’re spending together. As someone who has family all over the country and has lived in multiple states, I’ve always appreciated Thanksgiving and the time I spend with my family. Family time is always more important than shopping time.

The usual meal-time of Thanksgiving is now shopping time. Pretty soon, drive thrus will be selling turkeys on the go. So before you go out shopping this Black Friday (or Thursday), try to remember you should be counting your blessings, not the dollars you’ve saved. If we just went back to Black Friday being on Friday, people would be able to enjoy the traditional Thanksgiving again: a day meant to be spent with family, friends and good food.