Keep Calm and Gobble On
With Thanksgiving soon approaching, you can’t help but feel anxious. You want to be excited for all the delicious food and booze, but realize you’re about to take a big jump in your relationship: You’re meeting the family. Your significant other has decided things are serious enough that they want you to sit at the dinning room table with their family as they pass the peas.
As happy as you are to be invited to take such a big stride in your relationship, you can’t help to think that this is going to make or break your relationship. A million thoughts are running through your head. Are his parents going to like me more than his ex? Will they remember my name? Should I only talk when spoken to?
Reality is that they probably are equally as nervous to meet and impress you. So take a big breath. I’ve decided to help and leave you with three points to follow this holiday season. By following these rules, you are most likely to impress and leave a great impression on this thankful night.
- Keep calm and open wide: There’s a ton of delicious dishes surrounding you, but you can’t seem to keep anything down. You’ve got an awful case of the butterflies, and they are stopping you from eating anything. The only way this night is going to run smoothly is if you tell the butterflies to go away. You don’t want to insult your partner’s family by not eating anything they slaved to make. Plus, you know if you don’t eat you’ll either embarrass yourself by staring at someone else’s plate or passing out on the couch from starvation. So don’t let that food go to waste. Take a big bite out of Granny’s mac and cheese and show that you aren’t a shy eater.
- Cover up the goods: On this holiday, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Throw on some boots and a sweater dress, and show that you are classy, not trashy. Remember that first impressions are everything, and you don’t want a scandalous outfit to be your defining moment among your partner’s family.
- Count your blessings and your drinks: Alcohol is known for being liquid courage, which tends to come in handy in awkward or uncomfortable situations. But too much courage can lead to instant embarrassment. Although you might want to chug an entire bottle of wine before you meet the family, resist and pace yourself throughout the night.
Takeaway
Just follow these guidelines and you should leave a positive, lasting impression on your partner’s family. So go over with an hefty appetite, dressed cute yet comfortably, and tipsy enough to crack jokes but not fall over. Just be yourself, and the family would be crazy not to love you and be thankful that you’re in your partner’s life.
Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Christina aspires to be a public relations professional in a big city after graduation from James Madison University. In her free time when she’s not blogging away about dating and relationships, Christina loves to go shopping, watch Netflix and play with every puppy that crosses her path.