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"Thanksgiving is so close I can practically taste the turkey and feel the awkward family drama. Just kidding, I love spending the day with my big family. But I bet some of you out there will be visiting with your guy&amp;amp;#8217;s family instead of or in addition to your own, and that&amp;amp;#8217;s a little more nerve-wracking! How does a girl make a good impression on her potential in-laws while simultaneously stuffing her face with as many mashed potatoes as she can handle? (Note: don&amp;#x27;t lick the gravy off your plate.) I feel like we all know some basic moves: Bring a nice bottle of wine, be polite, offer a hand in the kitchen. But chances are, most women your guy might have brought home before you were probably polite too, and you want to knock the socks off your guy and his family so you&amp;amp;#8217;re the last girlfriend he ever brings home, am I right? Right. So, I went straight to the expert source: Mother-in-laws. I consulted my mom, my aunts, the moms of the men my friends have dated and married, and put together a list of the qualities that truly wow them. Good girlfriend move: Lending a hand if needed. Best girlfriend move: Help out without having to be asked. Start clearing dishes from the table or offer to make coffee after dinner. (Note: This is a politeness, not a sexist thing; I absolutely think visiting boyfriends should do the same thing!) Good girlfriend move: Bringing flowers or a food contribution. Best girlfriend move: Make your own contribution, don&amp;amp;#8217;t just join in on your boyfriend&amp;amp;#8217;s. If it&amp;amp;#8217;s a gift-giving occasion, bring your own small token to his parents instead of just signing his card. If he promised his mom he&amp;amp;#8217;d pick up some pies, pick out a dessert wine to go with them and bring that as well. It&amp;amp;#8217;s not about spending a certain amount of money, but showing thoughtfulness. Good girlfriend move: Avoid family drama and be polite to everyone. Best girlfriend move: Show respect for family traditions even if they are different than your own, and DON&amp;amp;#8217;T be critical (it will show on your face even if you don&amp;amp;#8217;t say it) of the food, house or family members. As one mother-in-law points out, &amp;amp;#8220;There may be a nephew who burps-deal with it :)&amp;amp;#8221;. Good girlfriend move: Participate in discussions or family games. Best girlfriend move: Go out on your own. Don&amp;amp;#8217;t cling to your boyfriend or monopoloize his time. You probably see your guy multiple times a week, but there may be family members who only see him a few times a year, and they may feel a little resentful if they don&amp;#x27;t get to have some quality time with him. Let him visit them, and get to know others on your own. Good girlfriend move: Be yourself. Best girlfriend move: Tell them about yourself, but also show a sincere interest in your guy and his family. Ask about family photos on the wall, or about how his parents met. All most families want to know is that you genuinely care about your guy and his loved ones. It should be noted that at least one of these women ended her advice by saying &amp;amp;#8220;WE WON THE LOTTERY&amp;amp;#8221; with regards to her new daughter-in-law, so these tips really do impress. But most of all, relax and enjoy your holiday getting to know a new side of your guy you might not have seen before (most people are comfortable around their family in a completely different way from their friends). Are you spending any time with your guy&amp;#x27;s family this Thanksgiving? Are you nervous or do you feel like you&amp;#x27;re good with parents? What are your own tips for being a polite holiday guest? Dating is for turkeys: *28 Reasons Thanksgiving Is The Least Sexy Holiday *Snoopy Questions You Might Get Asked at Thanksgiving Dinner. And How to Answer Them! *What His Favorite Thanksgiving Dish Says About His Dating Style Photo: Thinkstock"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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