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How to Be the Perfect Thanksgiving Guest
Part of becoming a fully-functioning member of adult society is learning how to cope with the holidays without simply digging a deep hole and hiding in it until January. If you’re lucky enough to be the one attending the festivities rather than the one hosting the festivities, you owe your host a certain amount of preparation and (dare I say) decorum.
After all, your host is entirely preoccupied with tracking down eggnog cups, assembling party music playlists, and sourcing industrial-size containers of antacid to cope with the stress. The last thing you want to do is add yourself to their “Things I Need to Freak Out About” list.
Rule #1. Bring Something Nice.
I don’t care if your host said, “Just bring yourself!” Sit down, honey, because I’m going to lay some truth on you.
They’re lying.
What they really want to say is, “Darn right you can bring something. I’m already running out of paper towels, toilet paper, and patience.”
So, yes, O-Perfect-Thanksgiving-Guest, you need to bring something. I recommend the holiday trifecta of paper towels, paper plates, and paper napkins as the perfect gift for the host. You can pick up affordable Sparkle® Paper Towel 6 Roll at Dollar General, and while you’re at it, throw in Dixie® Ultra 10 inch 44 count paper plates, which can hold up to 2 pounds of food, and Mardi Gras® Napkins 200 count.
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Flowers are a nice touch, too.
Rule #2. Do Something Nice.
You’ve brought something nice to the party, but you’re not done yet. It’s time for Exhibit B in The Case of the Untruthful Thanksgiving Host: “I’ve got everything under control; you just relax!”
In truth, that phrase is actually your cue to start helping! Who knew, right? Perhaps you could use some of those Sparkle paper towels to wipe up the gallon of grape juice that little Veruca just poured on the floor?
Or maybe your talents are best utilized by bringing a Dixie Ultra paper plate full of 2 pounds of food to Cousin Wilkie, who is just now beginning to expound upon his method for making protective hats out of aluminum foil.
Rule #3. Say Something Nice.
You can always find something to compliment at Thanksgiving, whether it’s the decor, the music, or the food. It doesn’t matter if the main dish was water chestnuts boiled in Worcestershire sauce. Daintily dab the Worcestershire sauce from your lips with a fetching Mardi Gras napkin, and then declare the water chestnuts to be the best water chestnuts you’ve ever had.
Also, if at any time you have the urge to immerse yourself in your smartphone rather than engage with your fellow partygoers, try this handy tip. Pour a large glass of whatever you like best, gently submerge your smartphone in it, and go start a conversation with Aunt Millicent instead. You can even use the conversation starter found on your Mardi Gras napkin.
And that, my little chickadee, is called manners. Try it! It’s fun.
Don’t miss my very best Thanksgiving turkey breast recipe!
Gladys parker
I agree 100 percent about the smart phone. As an older adult I have many reservations about how people use modern technology. I think they are fantastic time saving product, although I have problems with the people running them. Bringing paper supplies is such a time saver on the part of the hostess unless they are into fine china and linens and waiting to use them.
Katie Moseman
Very true! I’ve been to several fine china & silver Thanksgivings in my time.
Kelly Reci
I love visiting with my friends’ house. As a guest, I’m paying their hospitality by bringing foods and bringing gifts that they can put them as a home decor. And having a good manner that will be the best attitude when visiting others place.
My Teen Guide
After reading a lot of posts about how to be the perfect hostess for Thanksgiving, I think this is the first post I read about how to be the perfect guest! Thank you for sharing this. Although Thanksgiving for us is exclusively family, we do follow the tips you listed here. It is either we offer our help to prepare the feast, or we volunteer to take care of preparing a certain dish or dessert for the entire family.
Lisa Rios
This is all very spot on. My mom always taught me the value of good manners and to always compliment the host, help out, and to always bring something. All wonderful tips.
Rosey
These are all good tips. We’ll be guests this holiday at my oldest son’s home, and I’m so glad to not be doing all the cooking this year. 🙂
Julie Syl
It is really important to satisfy our guests and for the guests, it is essential to find something to compliment. It will leave a good impression to other people. Of course, Thanksgiving is very special so we need to be kind and be thankful to the home owners.
Monica
Paper supplies are really such a great idea! I also think that they give the host freedom to use them – because less clean up is always a win!
Ron Leyba
Bottom line, be a nice guest :). Great reminders for those who plans to visit their friend’s and relative’s home this Thanksgiving day.