6 Tips for Attending Thanksgiving with Your Boyfriend/Girlfriend

Thanksgiving will be here before you know it. If this is your first major holiday with a new boyfriend or girlfriend, the holiday-with-the-family invitation can be a stressful situation. This article presents 6 tips to help you get through your first major holiday with your new partner's family.

Tips for Attending Thanksgiving with Your Boyfriend/Girlfriend #1: Try to Meet People First

For many people, the first time meeting with the family of a new boyfriend or girlfriend can be intimidating. Add to that extended family members and a holiday situation, and the stress can be overwhelming.

Try to separate your obstacles. Meet as many members of your new partner's family as you can before Thanksgiving arrives. You will be a lot more at ease if you know some of the people there.

Tips for Attending Thanksgiving with Your Boyfriend/Girlfriend #2: Remember That You Are a Guest

Families all have different ways of interacting. If Thanksgiving is your first holiday with your boyfriend or girlfriend, remember that his or her family isn't used to you. All of the traditional rules of being a good guest apply.

Be polite, courteous and respectful. Don't go exploring the whole house unless you are offered a tour. Don't feed family pets "people food" unless you know it is okay to do so. Take cues from your partner and the other family members as to the nature of the celebration (serious? jovial?).

Tips for Attending Thanksgiving with Your Boyfriend/Girlfriend #3: Help Out!

This may be your best chance to make a good first impression. Don't waste that chance glued to your partner's side. Offer to help the host and hostess with the tasks they are performing. Thanksgiving can be a lot of work - do you really expect to be waited on?

If your offers of help are turned down, look for other places to join in. Is everyone huddled around the football games? Are they discussing the things for which they are thankful? Be outgoing and friendly.

Tips for Attending Thanksgiving with Your Boyfriend/Girlfriend #4: Be Prepared for Questions

The idea of spending Thanksgiving being grilled by every member of your boyfriend or girlfriend's family may not be overly appealing. Still, you're new; they're curious. Expect and accept that. Questions are part of the getting-to-know-you process, and most often are not meant maliciously.

If you hate having to answer a ton of questions, prepare some of your own. Rather than getting stumped, anticipate some common questions (work, school, family), and know how you will answer them. Turn questions into conversations instead of just answering and waiting for the next one.

Tips for Attending Thanksgiving with Your Boyfriend/Girlfriend #5: Be Open and Forgiving

Try to avoid being offended, and forgive if you are. Your boyfriend or girlfriend's family may not know you well. If so, chances are that what you take as slights probably weren't meant that way. Don't let small instances ruin your Thanksgiving.

Remember that everyone is different, and every family is different. If you really feel that something was meant to offend you, put it aside, enjoy the rest of Thanksgiving, and ask your partner about it later. Being more familiar with his or her own family, your boyfriend or girlfriend will probably have a better idea of how it was meant.

Tips for Attending Thanksgiving with Your Boyfriend/Girlfriend #6: Have Fun!

Be open, outgoing and friendly. Everyone enjoys being around someone who is laughing and having a good time. Besides that, you will enjoy Thanksgiving more - and probably be a lot less nervous.

Remember that this is just one day, and each day is precious. Find as much good as you can, and savor it. After all, it is Thanksgiving.

Good luck!