The awkward ‘first Christmas at your in-laws’ moments
Let’s be honest. Usually, Christmas with your own family is just a bit more relaxed than the Christmas dinner at your in-laws. Especially if it's the first time you're going, and you don't know your in-laws very well yet. No matter how often you ask your partner how they celebrate Christmas at their home, you only really know once you're there. There can be many different, terribly awkward moments, but these are the most recognizable.
Arriving first
You guys are actually just a bit too early. They are still busy with the last preparations, and no matter how often you offer to help, they keep politely declining. ‘Just sit down!’ they say well-meaning, but it’s not that comfortable when you’re sitting alone at the table.
Where should I sit?
Is there a fixed seating arrangement? If there are no name cards, it doesn't mean there isn't a fixed seating arrangement. Maybe Uncle Henk always sits next to your mother-in-law, or your father-in-law insists on sitting opposite one of the grandchildren. You don't know. And so you stand there for a while, uncertain next to the table, waiting for everyone to choose their chair.
Who is who again...
You had practiced so hard on all the names of the family members who would come. Evenings in a row as a sort of preparation for a test, hoping that during dinner you could casually address your niece with ‘Hi Elisa, I heard you started studying law.’ But no, from the moment you see all the faces, you realize that everyone looks too much alike and all the names have vanished from your mind like snow in the sun.
You can't get a bite down
Maybe you are spoiled when it comes to good food, one of your family members is a chef, but anyway: you really don't like the food. You try to get through it, keep a straight face, but it takes all your concentration to keep eating. Just hoping that the next dinner with the in-laws will take place in a nice restaurant.
Nice all those memories from previous years, but joining the conversation is really not working for you
It's really nice to hear all sorts of stories about your partner from years ago and how cute he was, but if all the conversations consist only of memories, it becomes difficult for you to join in. Especially when some memories including ex-lovers accidentally come up. Oh how nice to hear that Celeste baked such a fantastic cake back then.
Image: Netflix
