Talia Scatliff | Staff Reporter
So you’ve decided to bring that special someone home with you for Thanksgiving. First of all there is nothing to worry about. I am assuming you have already let your family know. If not, give them a call now.
Going home is always comforting and relaxing…for you. It can be for your boyfriend or girlfriend as well. However, there are a couple things you might want to keep in mind for the holidays to run smoothly… for the sake of this post I am just going to use the term boyfriend to keep things simple.
In the Know.
Make sure your boyfriend knows your family situation. For example if there are questions he should just not ask a member of your family, warn him prior to meeting the family. Relationships thrive on honesty, so it is important to be honest about any weird quirks any of your family members may have. No one likes to go into situations like this blind.
Come Bearing Gifts.
If you’re the guest, it would be nice to bring your boyfriend’s family a little gift, such as a bottle of wine, a candle, a box of gourmet chocolates, or even offer to bring an extra dessert. Anything really! Be sure to ask your boyfriend what his parents like and don’t stress too much over this, it’s the thought the counts, just make sure it comes from the heart.
Remember Your P’s and Q’s.
Be respectful. If feeling anxious just remember to breath and go slowly. Please and Thank You go a long way when meeting one another’s family. Think manners. Don’t forget to offer to help as well for example with washing dishes or clearing the table. Remember to treat everything you touch with care, as if you would treat your most precious belongings.
At the dining table: do not, do not, do not text. Please put your phone on silent unless you are expecting an important call and if you are, let everyone know ahead of time so that they do not think it’s rude when you take a phone call over a lovely dinner.
Again be respectful. Be respectful of their family traditions and religion. When stories come up and private jokes that you are not involved in, remember to keep your cool, smile and try to find the humor in things.
Forget the Nerves.
It is important to remember as well that others around you may be just as nervous as you are (if you’re even nervous at all). Your own girlfriend or boyfriend may be even more nervous then you, as they sit there hoping that the family likes you. The parents could be nervous as well. Taking all this into consideration will help calm nerves. Remember that your only human and so are the people around you.
Give Thanks.
After it’s all over, do not forget your thank you. It might even be a good idea to send a written thank you note or card. Any parent would love that.
If you have any question, feel free to ask me below and I’d be happy to answer them!
-Talia
