It's that time of year again. The most wonderful time of the year, a season of giving, a time to be grateful for your family and loved ones. But it's also that time of the year when people act like idiots. The holidays are so built up in our society and come with all these pressures.
Ladies tend to be nurturing creatures. So it's natural to want to shower your boyfriend/crush/object of your stalking with holiday gifts. Because naturally getting them the amazing thing they've been wanting forever is the way to their heart, right? Wrong! While yes, they will most likely love the gift you spent three paychecks on, that doesn't necessarily translate into love for YOU. A few Christmases ago a good friend of mine splurged and bought his semi new girlfriend an expensive necklace. But honestly, I think it kind of just freaked her out. An expensive gift goes one of two ways and instilling fear is one of them. If it was Christmas Day and your guy opened the brand new, pricey sports jersey he's been craving and turns around and gives you a bubble bath set, it doesn't exactly set things on an even keel. It also gets them to thinking you may be a lot more serious about the relationship than they are. It's panic inspiring. Save yourself the trouble and go out, buy his favorite mid priced booze and a couple of manly shot glasses. Bam. Done. Maybe throw some beef jerky in the bag if you are feeling really classy.
Holidays are also about family and depending on how long you have been with your squeeze it may be the first time meeting his family or extended family. Unless you are dating a heartless serial killer, you are probably going to want to make a good impression on his family. But so many gals go about this the complete wrong way. Do NOT pretend to be instant best friends with his mom/grandma/sisters. Lady relatives are shrewd. And yes they ARE going to be sizing you up. So don't be fake. If you have an interest in his sister's job, go ahead and ask her about it. But don't spew effusive praise about how AWESOME it/she is. That's just annoying. Go ahead and ask his mom if she needs help in the kitchen, but don't just make yourself at home. It's NOT your home. It should go without saying, but do not get drunk at his family holiday party. It doesn't matter if they are all toasted, it doesn't matter if you think you can hold your liquor. Do not do it. His nana doesn't need to hear your drunken recollections and she certainly doesn't want to have to hold your hair back while you puke. (But she probably would, nanas are like that) Limit yourself to one. If anyone asks, just say you are driving. The biggest meet the family rule is to be yourself. Don't try to conform yourself to what you think his family is looking for. My friend pretended to be super domestic for her boyfriend's super traditional mother and got a cookbook for her troubles. This is the girl who burns grilled cheese. Don't pretend you want tons of kids just because she yearns for grandkids or that you can cook just because she doubles as Betty Crocker. Can't cook? Bring a bottle of wine. It's the thought that counts.
And if this seems like too much effort to put in, just do what Jamie Foxx does in Valentine's Day. Just shut your game down between Halloween and St. Patrick's Day. One less person to gift for...
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