You and your partner need to get the obvious figured out right away, and it\u2019s going to take a frank, direct, and possibly awkward conversation about sleeping arrangements. Are you staying in the same room? Will one person stay in the room and the other on the couch? Or will you be staying in a hotel during the trip? Have a game plan in place so if you get an answer you don\u2019t want to hear, you won\u2019t be storming off once it\u2019s time for stuffing.<\/p>\n
The White Elephant in the Room<\/strong><\/p>\n While Christmas is a time for family, joy, and peace, it\u2019s also a time for presents! No matter how much you pretend not to care, the consumer in you is hard to ignore. Before hitting the mall and buying a gift for each person of the family, ask your partner about the usual protocol. Are names picked out of a hat so you only have to buy for one person? Is there a price limit for gifts? Do couples buy as couples? Luckily, your partner has done this a few times and will know what\u2019s expected. Realistically, you\u2019re probably not expected to bring presents for everyone if this is your first Christmas with them, so an all-inclusive gift like a nice bottle of wine or fruit basket should work just fine.<\/p>\n Speaking of Gifts\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n If you have chosen to go the individual gift route, try to be mindful of what you\u2019re giving. Your hard-core conservative father-in-law may not want the autobiography of a liberal politician. Likewise, your mother-in-law may not want the latest death metal album when she\u2019s more of a Broadway fan. Once again, your partner should be able to guide you with this. One big thing to keep in mind is avoiding those truly generic gifts featured at every drug store. If it\u2019s for Aunt Sally whom you know nothing about, a hot chocolate trio set might work; but for the sister you\u2019ve met a few times, a homemade spiced cider kit is much more suitable.<\/p>\n Less Boxing Gloves, More Boxing Day <\/strong><\/p>\n Arguments and family go together like peanut butter and jelly. It\u2019s inevitable when you have a dozen people who share the same blood but not beliefs. While family quarrels are often silly and sometimes healthy, try to refrain from going to town for 12 rounds. If you\u2019re asked, of course share your opinions, but do so respectfully. This Christmas is your interview, and how you present yourself can determine if you\u2019re invited back. If it helps, think of it like work and avoid the big three topics: politics, religion, and sex. And, this goes without saying, try not to get into a fight with your sweetie on their home turf. Being around family has a funny way of bringing out the extremes in people, but getting into an argument about how she never takes out the trash or he never cooks is not going to make your night of sleep on an air mattress any cozier.<\/p>\n![\"Week32](\"http:\/\/expedia.blog.ca.local\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Week32-Vintage-Wrapped-Presents_1-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Week32](\"http:\/\/expedia.blog.ca.local\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Week32-Hanging-Boxing-Gloves_2-scaled.jpg\")
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