The holidays are here folks! It's that time though where conversations are in full swing around who you’re spending the holidays with, and if it’s finally time to bring your new flame home to meet your loved ones.

Even if your partner has already met your parents, having them meet the rest of your extended family is a big deal. Are you ready? Are they ready? 

Some tips based on Lauren & I's experiences: 

- Give your significant the basics before they meet your family. Does your Dad or Mom swear too much? Give them the heads up.  Does your family like to talk politics (WOOF)? Definitely give them the heads up. Clue your date in on any family traditions, quirks, and weird relatives ahead of time.  Give your parents and siblings the basics before they meet your partner.  This way, family members will be less tempted to interrogate her or him during the visit.  

-   Be clear about your relationship status.  Before you even consider bringing your S.O. home to face a barrage of questions about your relationship, make sure the both of you are on the same page.

- Figure out the gift situation.  Have a discussion about gift-giving ahead of time, both with your family and your S.O. so no one feels awkward both in terms of one having a gift for the other, but not the other way around. Your partner should probably bring a small token of thanks—i.e. a host gift—while your family treating you and your S.O. to a long weekend of meals might feel like enough. 

All in all, have fun with it, but be sure to bring booze! :)