Tips for Bringing your Boyfriend/Girlfriend Home for the Holidays

By Amanda Paul on December 2, 2015

image via www.crosswalk.com

The holidays: a time for family, gift giving, food, and happiness! But if your family is anything like mine, the holidays can be a time of turmoil! We all have some crazy in our family, which makes it all the more nerve racking to bring your boyfriend or girlfriend home for the holidays.

It’s the unique time of the year when your partner can meet your whole family. This occasion makes meeting-the-parents seem like child’s play because not only does your partner have to worry about your parents’ judging eye, but also your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. casting shade. It’s tense for you and tense for your partner, but fear not! Here are some tips and strategies that you can use to make sure things go smoothly:

 Tip 1: From Us

Buying gifts for people is difficult, figuring out their tastes, keeping the gift with in a reasonable budget, wanting to wow them, so much goes into it! It’s even more difficult if you don’t know the person you are shopping for, which is exactly the position that your boyfriend or girlfriend is in! How can he/she buy a gift for your grandma, if the two have never met? To avoid this dilemma, you should do all the shopping for your relatives’ gifts and include your partner’s name on the card. That way your partner doesn’t look rude for not bringing a gift, and they don’t have to figure out what to buy for strangers.

Tip 2: Combining Traditions

It is important to remember that when your significant other is with your family for the holidays, they are away from their own family. You should be considerate of this and try to make your partner feel as included as possible. One way you can go about this is by incorporating some of your partner’s family traditions into your holiday celebration. Does your boyfriend/girlfriend have a particular dish that they always make for the holidays? Perhaps his/her family do certain activities together every year, like caroling or decorating, try some of them out with your family! This will make your significant other feel more included and allow them to celebrate they way that they usually do. It’s also good practice for you to try out some of your partner’s traditions because, if things are serious, it’s likely that you’ll be doing some of these things with him/ her on future holidays.

Tip 3: Give Fair Warning

Do you have an uncle with strong political opinions and an even stronger tendency towards debate, a feisty cousin straight out of prison, or an aunt who’s just a little off? Whatever it may be, you should give your partner a heads up before they join your for the holidays. Let him/her know what to expect from your wildest family members, so that he/she isn’t caught off guard and to give your partner some time to prepare. If your partner knows what to expect, then you are less likely to have any awkward surprises!

Tip 3: A Bit of the Buddy System

You don’t need to be attached to your significant other’s hip, but you should still spend time with them, as you are likely on only person that he/she is really comfortable with. Check in on your boyfriend or girlfriend regularly, make sure they feel included and that everyone is being nice. Dedicate as much time to your partner as needed to make sure they feel as comfortable as possible!

 

Your partner can survive your family, and the two of you will be even closer for it! So take him/her home for the holidays, include them in your family and traditions, and have fun! Melding families are a part of being in a serious relationship, and if your partner wants to spend the holidays with you and your family, then it’s safe to say that he/she is really into you. So despite how dysfunctional your family is, your partner will be there, celebrating with you.

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