Do talk to everyone, not just the cousins that are your own age and your immediate family. Having trouble finding common ground with Great Uncle Benny? Mention a great book you just read in class and ask him if he had to read it in high school. Does Aunt Sarah travel a lot on business? Ask her about her fave place to visit.

Do leave your cell phone in your room. Your friends won’t die if you don’t chat for a few hours, so be polite and ditch the phone during dinner.

Do think before you speak. Sometimes offhand comments can be taken in a way we don’t intend. Head off your not-so-nice one-liners by really considering how the people you’re talking to will interpret your words. Some things really are better left unsaid.

Don’t bring up politics. Even if your family agrees on things, someone will say something inflammatory and your fabulous dinner be will overshadowed by petty bickering.

Don’t bring up unpleasant topics. Would you want your mom to field the, “Oh, I heard Molly flunked her math class. How’s that going?” question in front of everyone? Probably not, right? So return the favor and keep your questions sweet, not sour.

Don’t get too detailed. Sure, Grandma wants to know what’s going on in your life, but a play-by-play of your last relationship? That might just send her over the edge. Find a happy balance between dishing on your new guy or your awesome science project without going overboard. If it’s super-complicated or quite literally a long story, forget about it.

Tell us, babes, what are your Thanksgiving dinner party pointers?

by Brittany Taylor | 2/1/2016