No matter the time of year, family parties are always an interesting event. While I am lucky to have spent most holidays surrounded by my extended family, there are certain things that commonly happen at family parties that no one can deny. Whether you see your family many times a year or very rarely, coming together can bring out fun times and times when you really just want to crawl under the dinner table for a bit. With Thanksgiving and Christmas quickly approaching, there are bound to be many more family dinners coming up, so let's just take a moment to remember how family parties go down.
1. Everyone arrives.
The family begins trickling in and the house is suddenly filled with aunts, uncles, and cousins. This is still the time for polite small talk to catch up and get the evening started.
2. Time to get a drink. You know you're expected to be a real adult now, but you're more like...
You may be a college student now, but let's be real, you still aren't quite ready for the adult table. While the rest of the family is expressing how great the Cabernet Sauvignon is that they're drinking, you'll be guzzling your rosé like there's no tomorrow.
3. You've starved yourself all day for this holiday meal and it's time to feast.
No matter the holiday, the food is always one of the highlights of the day. When family drama starts at least you can count on the fact that you can enjoy some delicious food while it goes down. If a conversation comes up you don't feel like engaging in, just put a couple extra bites of turkey in.
4. Everyone is a couple of drinks in and all conversation boundaries are down.
And so it begins. All the topics you were hoping wouldn't come up are flowing out of everyone's mouthes and you see the impending doom, just hoping you make it out unscathed.
5. POLITICS.
First person in the family to bring up politics loses. With recent political events, it's going to be hard to steer clear of politics this Holiday season. Here's hoping everyone in your family is on the same side, but if not, good luck!
6. Then the family drama starts being discussed.
"Did you hear what Aunt Sarah did?!" Now's the time to discuss the various other family members and hear what's happened since everyone last saw one another. No matter the family, there's always some sort of drama to discuss.
7. Next, conversation turns to you and at first you're like...
It's easy questions at first. "How's school?" "What's new?" You're thinking how easy this is. You can talk about yourself all night. You go on and talk about all the exciting things happening in your life until...
8. You slipped up and forgot the dreaded question.
"Soooo are you seeing anyone?" Usually your grandma asks and you decide which way to get out of the conversation as quickly as possible.
9. Time to celebrate the change of conversation!
Pour yourself another glass of rosé and realize you have almost made it through the night! Now it's time to sit back and watch as they harass your other cousins and siblings.
10. You did it!
Another successful family party in the books! Family parties are a fun and special time of the holiday season, even if they do come with the same struggles each year. Make it through your family parties this year by just remembering that that right after you can cuddle up and binge watch Netflix for the rest of the break!
