In my family, Thanksgiving is one of the Big Three holidays of the year, nestled just between Easter and Christmas.  On this food-fueled celebration, turkey is king and family is only as far as the nearest gravy boat.  It's one of the few times during the year when the entire crew is together in one place, and it's a time to get caught up, hear new stories, and, of course, meet the newest additions to the group.

Bringing your boyfriend or partner to Thanksgiving for the first time can be daunting.  After all, nobody knows if crazy Uncle Earl is going to hurl a pumpkin pie in your gay lover's direction, and no one can predict if Cousin Sissy will start muttering, "Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve" under her whiskey-soaked breath after grace.  If you're introducing your partner to your family's Thanksgiving rituals tomorrow, here are five tips on how to survive it with a smile.

1. Make sure you're both on the same page.  The holidays can be tricky if you're only out to certain family members.  Introduce your partner to them early in the day off to the side, and make sure he knows who he can talk openly with in terms of your relationship.  Communication is key, and it's a great time to work on your team skills together.

2. Be honest, but don't put too much pressure on your relatives.  If you're dining with your rigid Baptist family, you could incite a religious riot by flaunting your pride.  Don't force your beliefs or sexuality on anyone else, and if you're cornered, don't be afraid to remind your opponent about the same.  Thanksgiving isn't a time for fighting--it's a time to relax and enjoy the company of family and loved ones.

3. Keep PDA to a minimum.  In fact, all PDA is best kept to a minimum when the entire family is around--heterosexual, homosexual, and everything in between.  There are few things more awkward than catching two people making out over the mashed potatoes before they've reached your side of the table.  Save the tongue wrestling for later that night just before the tryptophan kicks in.

4. Encourage lively conversations about your different Thanksgiving traditions at the table.  When you're meeting your partner's family for the first time and you're not sure how they'll react at the table, things can go south very quickly.  Have some stock conversation starters in mind before you arrive to the party.  A few ideas: talk about your Thanksgiving traditions, chat about the parade on TV, or dig into the latest book or movie you indulged in.  If all else fails, talk about Sarah Palin.  You'd be surprised at the reactions you would get!

5. Don't forget the reason for the season: love.  Even if the day is a complete disaster and you barely manage to stumble out of the house covered in string beans and turnips, remember that acceptance can take some time.  Laugh it off together on the front lawn before jumping back inside to join in on the food fight once again.  After all, you're in love and you're surrounded by family--things just don't get much better than that!

What are your plans for Thanksgiving dinner?  Are you introducing your partner to your family (or vice versa) for the first time?  Drop me a line at relationships@alexseise.com to share what's on your mind!