Dating: Other people’s opinion
A lot of us are taking home dates for the holidays..some for the first time. You may want to prepare yourself (and your date!) for the onslaught of opinions from parents, distant relatives, and/or close friends.
They may have opinions about the way your date is dressed, their manners, or even the way they treat you when everyone is around. When you are surrounded by people that love you, they tend to be a bit opinionated, a tad judgmental about the people that you date. The key is how you handle all those well-intentioned comments and opinions.
What is the best way to handle a situation where your family is putting your date through the wringer? Do you abandon them and let them fend for themselves? Do you run interference and serve as a buffer to protect them from awkward conversations?
Have you ever taken a date home for the holidays and it turned into a disaster?
Would you break up with someone if they didn’t fare well with the “meet the family” introductions?
By Wise Diva, Misadventures in Atlanta Dating Blog
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239 comments Add your comment
HST
November 14th, 2012
1:01 pm
Dani, go to a boobie bar, movie, or as suggested volunteer. There’s some really good restaurants serving, but only you know what type of fare you want. IMO, kid free and family free Turkey Day means an all out debaucherous event.
Comon ¢
November 14th, 2012
1:02 pm
Dani~ Orr… If you were feeling less altrustic than Single, you could join HST party of debauchery…
Seriously, I would be willing to bet that someone you are friends with is having their version of Misfit Thanksgiving. I would join in on that. I know that at the hubs house, there is always someone new every year and we welcome them with open arms. Who knows, you might make some new friends.
HST
November 14th, 2012
1:02 pm
I’m going to job Bloggers, but “I’ll be back.”
HST
November 14th, 2012
1:03 pm
Misfit Thanksgiving for TMFW!
Bluzgirl
November 14th, 2012
1:09 pm
Dano – A movie is always good…anything out you want to see?
czBrat ♀ birth date: 11/21; big chop: 11/12
November 14th, 2012
1:09 pm
single, you’ve just about pegged it. to this day my kids (now 23 and 20) have no recollection of madness around their “other side” coz mama was quick to slip the he!! on outta their midst before the fireworks. and good thing coz they didn’t need to sit around listening to aunts, uncles and grandparents telling of their daddy’s philandering ways.
comon, big bro’s 35 yrs have yielded much wisdom;
1) s/o’s protective nature could easily become possessive. (i agree)
2) don’t co-mingle assets that might later be a headache to amicably split. (we’ve known for years that part of what has kept them together is the
debtwealth they’ve built that they are not willing to split. so i get where he’s coming from with that too.)Bluzgirl
November 14th, 2012
1:12 pm
The bar I used to hang out at downtown has a Misfits Thanksgiving every year (at least I think they still do)…
Leggs
November 14th, 2012
1:13 pm
Dani ~ come over to my place and eat with me. Right now, it’s just me and my child who may grab a bite to eat then skedaddle.
Dani
November 14th, 2012
1:13 pm
Ex- My family lives 5hrs away and driving there with kids and dog for Christmas. Single- I just signed up to volunteer with meals on wheels for Seniors thanks for suggestion.
Comon ¢
November 14th, 2012
1:14 pm
Maybe we should celebrate Festivus this year and just give up on the traditional holidays…
Bluzgirl
November 14th, 2012
1:14 pm
My mom has decided that she doesn’t want to deal with a big old turkey this year. She’s going to try a chicken and stuffing cassarole. I told her that is fine, as long as she makes my broccoli rice cassarole!!!
czBrat ♀ birth date: 11/21; big chop: 11/12
November 14th, 2012
1:15 pm
i’m hungry. ever so patiently waiting for my murphy’s burger.
Exiled!
November 14th, 2012
1:16 pm
Actually debauchery for Dani is a good idea Common..she recently divorced so she proly hasn’t had some in a while coz of the constant harangue with ex
Unless cheating is involved on both sides here.
This would be a pleasant way of getting back in the swing of thangs!
Bluzgirl
November 14th, 2012
1:16 pm
It’s a Festivus for the rest of us…
Exiled!
November 14th, 2012
1:17 pm
5 hours is nothing Dani
Thanksgiving = Family= Big
czBrat ♀ birth date: 11/21; big chop: 11/12
November 14th, 2012
1:20 pm
personally, i’d go with volunteering or treating myself to an all-out getaway. anything non-traditional so i don’t find myself looking around thinking ‘my kids are supposed to be here right now’.
Leggs
November 14th, 2012
1:20 pm
Dani ~ just don’t like to see people alone for Holidays. Glad you found something to do.
Leggs
November 14th, 2012
1:21 pm
What’s a murphy’s burger?
Exiled!
November 14th, 2012
1:22 pm
Do uall go to lunch in groups…do some of u feel/do the lunch group thing?
I don’t.
Celisea
November 14th, 2012
1:23 pm
Dani – Get you some great music and snacks and make the drive to see your kids…if only for a couple of hours! Seeing them should be good Eat hearty, grab a few movies on the way in and chillax!!
Exiled!
November 14th, 2012
1:24 pm
Enjoy your heart attack Cz!
Dani
November 14th, 2012
1:26 pm
Leggs- You are so nice to offer an invite! I can cook but I have never prepared a big holiday meal. I usually go to my parents house for the holidays. I just arrive and the whole meal is ready.
Leggs
November 14th, 2012
1:26 pm
Ex ~ what makes you think her divorce was recent and she hadn’t had any. Is sex the only thing you think about???
1st Thanksgiving alone doesn’t necessarily state divorce is recent. He could have been feeling slighted since divorce and asked for the kids this year. Not saying you’re wrong nor right. Anything is possible.
Exiled!
November 14th, 2012
1:31 pm
Leggs, I’m sure shell answer that question if she wants to.
And Yes! @ the second question
Dani
November 14th, 2012
1:31 pm
Celisea- I’m the custodial parent. They will be here in Atlanta just with their dad. My ex inlaws are cool they invited me to dinner. I just think it looks bad for the ex-wife to show up when it is his parenting time with the kids.
czBrat ♀ birth date: 11/21; big chop: 11/12
November 14th, 2012
1:35 pm
zip it, me-lo!!
leggs, thing 1 is bringing me lunch from murphy’s in va-highland.
folks started talking about smoked and fried turkeys at our staff meeting this morning. that was my first ‘i can’t believe i’m gonna miss turkey day’ pang.
but i’m over it now. bring on the beach!!!!!!
Single and Happy
November 14th, 2012
1:37 pm
Cz, hmm let me see, turkey, beach, turkey, beach, beach, turkey, beach tur, beach beach, yea beach wins every time (LOL) if I could I would spend every holiday at the beach, I can see the family anytime (LOL)
Leggs
November 14th, 2012
1:39 pm
I love Yeah Burger in Va-highlands. I actually save my hamburger consumption so I can go there and enjoy.
Dani
November 14th, 2012
1:39 pm
Divorce this year, separated back 2011, kids spent Thanksgiving and Christmas day with me last year and Christmas evening with him and his family. We have just started a odd-even year holiday schedule with our parenting plan.
Celisea
November 14th, 2012
1:40 pm
Dani – Gotcha. Not sure I would be comfy then either. There are lots of things you can do
I see nothing wrong with volunteering though 
czBrat ♀ birth date: 11/21; big chop: 11/12
November 14th, 2012
1:44 pm
i like yeah burger too. and vortex. and farm burger. even liked flip burgers sliders.
czBrat ♀ birth date: 11/21; big chop: 11/12
November 14th, 2012
1:47 pm
i didn’t even think about missing the time with fam; just the food.
we have eat-togethers throughout the year so that part i’m ok with. but we only do turkey at thanksgiving. and the last time i tried a cajun-infused fried bird it was a.maze.ing!
Leggs
November 14th, 2012
1:48 pm
Went to vortex, but couldn’t be seated due to lil leggs being with me. Like farm burger as well. Been to 5 guys once and will never go back. So now when I want a burger, it’s yeah burger.
I would feel the same way, Dani and glad I didn’t have to split holidays.
czBrat ♀ birth date: 11/21; big chop: 11/12
November 14th, 2012
1:49 pm
i think i gave five guys two chances before x-ing them off my list.
Single and Happy
November 14th, 2012
1:50 pm
Cz ask them to freeze you some
czBrat ♀ birth date: 11/21; big chop: 11/12
November 14th, 2012
1:50 pm
oh. and how can i forget red robin? although i haven’t been there in forever.
but they just reminded me i have a free b-day burger waiting so …..
czBrat ♀ birth date: 11/21; big chop: 11/12
November 14th, 2012
1:51 pm
single, i plan to make up for it at xmas.
Comon ¢
November 14th, 2012
1:54 pm
See, y’all talking about burgers, Have you been to Just Around the Corner accross from Philipps Arena? They have been there for YEARS and the hubs and I used to go there when we were around 21-22. Great food! And they’re still there! We went there before the Falcons game a couple of weeks ago.
Dani
November 14th, 2012
1:54 pm
The only good thing at least my bday is not on Thanksgiving this year.
Leggs
November 14th, 2012
1:55 pm
czBrat ♀ birth date: 11/21; big chop: 11/12
November 14th, 2012
1:56 pm
never even heard of it, comon. thanx for the tip.
Leggs
November 14th, 2012
1:57 pm
That would be a double negative whammy, Dani! I’m glad it’s not as well.
czBrat ♀ birth date: 11/21; big chop: 11/12
November 14th, 2012
1:58 pm
leggs, this time of year i get b-day meal offers from EVERYWHERE. and that’s a prob when you’re already heading into chow-down marathon season.
Comon ¢
November 14th, 2012
2:02 pm
cz~ It look slike one of those trailers, but it is really a stationary restaurant. If you are ever headed down to Phillips or CNN, it is a great place to grab a bite. Others have told me that the Chikiyaki sandwich is really good (that’s what the hubs has) but I LOVE their burgers. It’s what they’re known for.
Comon ¢
November 14th, 2012
2:03 pm
Dani~ You and cz are right there together for the b-days. What day is yours?
Dani
November 14th, 2012
2:06 pm
28th
disco
November 14th, 2012
2:07 pm
dani – I may be a day late and dollar short (just back from lunch) but just remember thanksgiving isn’t forever. the kids are coming back. lol. get out and have some fun. do you. get your cabbage patch, running man, c-walk on. do the dang thang. whatever it is that you abstain from doing because the kids are around, have at it while they are gone. walk around your house buck booty naked. okay. don’t mind me. I’m throwed off.
Comon ¢
November 14th, 2012
2:08 pm
So, cz you are this coming Wednesday and Dani is next Wednesday. What are the plans for the B-days ladies?
Leggs
November 14th, 2012
2:09 pm
and you just threw Ex back on!
Single and Happy
November 14th, 2012
2:09 pm
comon is that on the corner of Spring an Marietta?