RSS
Home
Scary holiday dating scenarios solved
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
You've only been on one or two dates. You assume there will be more in the future. In the meantime the holidays are quickly approaching and there are a few different scenarios that are sure to come up. You're whining into your beer and complaining to your closest friends. Take a deep breath, I've got the scenarios covered- they're manageable.
Scenario #1: You've just started dating someone new. Maybe you've only been on a few dates and you're nowhere near "official" but Christmas and Hanukkah is just around the corner and you're wondering if you should give them a gift. You're asking yourself if it's appropriate, if they'll think you are weird or clingy if you give a gift after such a short time of dating. Obviously the rule of thumb is if you do give a gift it shouldn't cost more than their share of the first date (approximately $20). If you're uncomfortable giving a gift or not sure if you should, a simple holiday card with a light message will do fine. Remember, Valentine's Day is only a few months away- if you're still dating then you can get a more expensive and personal gift.
Scenario #2: You go on your second or third date- your date brought a present but you didn't. Don't panic- this is when it pays to be prepared. A friend of mine used to have copies of a favorite book so she could easily present someone with a copy as a gift. Keep a few 'emergency gifts' at your apartment, something very asexual- a popular book, movie, or CD works well. If you find yourself in this situation you can easily claim that you forgot the present at home. When you go to your place to retrieve the nicely pre-wrapped present it will seem as though you had intended to give it to him or her all along. You make a clean get away and you don't look like a cheapskate. Nice save!
Scenario #3: Your parents invite you to dinner. You get a +1 invitation for a holiday work party. Your friend is having a themed house party. You've had a few successful dates now- which of these events, if any, do you invite the person you're dating? Normally if I've only been dating someone a short time I do not want them to meet my family for various reasons. A holiday family dinner is especially a no-no. Imagine the probing eyes from parents and sibs, aunts, uncles, and cousins as you casually mention you've only been on a few dates. Besides you'll spend the next few weeks answering questions from interested family members. If things don't work out and you two stop dating you'll have a barrage of questions and there will always be that one family member who asks where that charming young man or beautiful lady is for your next year's Christmas dinner. Unless you want to be dodging questions about your relationship for the next year, avoid taking your new date to family functions- at least for the time being.
Parties are a little bit more low key and can be a fun experience to share with your date. If you attend a holiday work party be sure to act appropriate- absolutely no PDA or you'll be the talk of the building for the next few days. A friend's house party is the way to go- generally there are tons of people, many of whom are meeting for the first time. In this type of environment it's easy to take a date- you'll both feel at ease as people will be more concerned with drinking and exchanging gifts than interrogating your date.
.jpg)
Friends are less likely to make you and your date uncomfortable.
Related Articles:
Comments
