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Should I invite my friend to my family's Thanksgiving dinner?

 

Maybe your bestie is feeling bummed because her fam doesn't do anything special for turkey day. Or you're away at school and you want to invite your new dorm bud home for the holidays. Regardless, deciding whether or not to bring a friend to a family holiday can be a tough choice. Here are a few questions to ask yourself...before you ask your friend:

Will your family mind? You might be super excited to have your BFF join you at the table for turkey...but your sibs and parents might not be as thrilled. Having a guest will definitely change the dynamic of the holiday for everyone involved. Ask your sibs and Mom and Dad how they would honestly feel about it. And of course, you need to get permission from the parents first, anyways.

Is it going to be too awkward for your friend? You roll your eyes whenever Uncle Joe makes those inappropriate jokes (which let's be honest, is *all* the time) and it no longer bothers you when your cousin and her mom get into World War 3. But will your bud be okay with those things? If she's been your bestie since kindergarten, chances are she's already heard all the stories or met the whole gang. But if she's a new friend, throwing her into the Thanksgiving fire might be a little too much for a first impression.

Have any non-family members come to Thanksgiving before? If one of your sibs has invited their friends to family functions before, you can feel more confident that your pal will also be welcome. But if this will be the first time a guest has attended your annual holiday dinner, tread lightly. There may be a reason why your parents like to keep it family-only. After all, turkey day is meant to be all about the awesome people you're related to! Every family is different though, so useyour best judgment.

Will you be comfortable? You've already considered how your fam will feel, but what about you? Sure, it sounds like a dream come true to be able to celebrate with your BFF but remember having a guest at a family event can be a big responsibility. You'll have to explain the inside jokes to her, make sure she always feels included in the convo and basically stick by her side the whole time. Which is great as long as you realize that ahead of time. Don't rush into inviting her if you aren't 100% sure.

Have you ever invited a friend to celebrate the holidays with your family? How did it go? 

Photo credit: Google Images.

by Amanda Tarlton | 11/15/2016
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