My mom’s birthday always falls on my school’s homecoming, so this year, I decided to combine them. I brought my parents, and the rest of my family, to my tailgating party for the homecoming football game. In fact, not only did I bring my parents, but all my roommates invited their families; thus, resulting in a cohesion of moms, dads, siblings, and lots of college of students. And, I can honestly say, it was the best tailgate I have ever experienced -- by far.

1. So. Much. FREE. Food.

My mom loves to host. Whenever I would have friends over in high school, the house would be spotless, filled with an aroma of an apple-cinnamon candle, and there would an abundance of snacks on the table. And of course, the following morning my mom would create her famous breakfast feast of pancakes, french toast, eggs, bacon, fruit and at least four different syrups. So, when she arrived at my house before the tailgate, we unloaded boxes of food including barbecue, fiesta dip, taco dip, veggie tray, cheese, meat, crackers, candy bars, cookies, and so much more. Needless to say, the kitchen was transformed into an appetizing party room.

2. Meeting All of the College Friends

After our tailgate, I was told that my mom greeted all my friends by announcing, “Hi! I’m Karlee’s mom!” Also, my dad eyed-up every male I talked to. The group was a beautiful and entertaining combination of all my favorite people. Besides, if you have never introduced your drunk friends to your parents and watch them make polite conversation, you must try; it is beyond entertaining.

3. “Dad, we need help…”

In my family, the fix-it person is my dad. So, when our only toilet at our house started to back-up, my dad was immediately called on scene. While my roommates and I would be more than capable of attempting to fix the problem, the margin for success might have been significantly lower.

4. Drinking Games With the 'Rents

First, explaining the rules to ring of death/waterfall to anyone is a long process, now imagine trying to explain it to multiple parents AND trying to make it semi-appropriate. Such as transforming, “six is dicks” to “six is boys” and “four is whores” to “four is ladies”, just to maintain the innocence. And of course, the stunned look of bewilderment when they learn what waterfalling actually means.

Also, for your own amusement, you must make one of your parents your “date” during the games. This rule means that your date must match every drink you consume, which my father had the pleasure of being mine. While he would have kicked my ass in drinking beer when he was in college, I definitely have established an upper hand. Also at one point, I may have begun purposefully screwing up just so he would give me the evil eye as he took a drink.

5. “Booming” Your Mom

Boom Cup is a classic drinking game that includes a circle of solo cups filled with beer in the middle and two cups that rotate around the circle. The goal is to bounce a pong ball in your cup, before the person in front of you does, and then smash your cup in theirs forcing them to chug a middle cup. To give my mom credit, I don’t know the last time she sat around bouncing pong balls in cups, but nevertheless, it was hysterical to slowly set my cup in my mom’s causing her to drink. It was responded with a dramatic, “Karlee! How dare you do that to your mother!” and a sly smile response by me.

6. Unveiling Secrets

Over the years my parents have casually, or accidentally, let the stories of the hoodrat stuff they did as youths slip. Those secrets are my favorite, so I decided to pursue more, and I was not disappointed. If you want to learn more about your parents, and just how cool they are, get them to drink a beer and play “Never Have I Ever” -- the trick is not to let your secrets slip in the process.

7. Dancing With Your Dad

When I was younger, my dad would always make me dance with him, essentially whenever there was music paying, transforming wherever we were into a dance floor, a characteristic I proudly carried with me to college. So, when I found my dad standing on the outskirts of the party, I grabbed his hands and pulled him onto the gravel and solo cup covered dance floor. Although, the song was a trap tune you’d find blaring at a frat party, it still was the highlight of my day to shamelessly dance in public with my dad again.