Is it Too Early to Bring My SO to Meet My Family?

It’s official—you’ve been cuffed! After dating your fair share of dreamboats and duds, you finally found someone worth keeping around. Congrats! But now that the holidays are here, you're asking yourself that age-old question:
Is it too early to introduce them to my family?

Before making any big moves, grab your favorite yellow legal pad (or Notes app) and let’s do a little soul-searching. Here’s a handy checklist of questions to help you decide if it’s time to bring your SO into the family fold—or wait it out.

👀 Know Your Audience

One of the realest fears about introducing a significant other to your family is the unpredictable dinner table conversation. Your sweet new boo could find themselves smack in the middle of a heated debate about health care policy—and there’s no escape. Your abuelita might say something wildly inappropriate two seconds into dinner. Someone will ask when you’re getting married. Someone else will ask if you're pregnant. It's chaos.

So here’s the test:
Can your SO handle your family’s brand of crazy?

Pay attention to how they respond to awkward or tense situations in day-to-day life. Give them a heads-up about your family’s quirks and political landmines. If they take it in stride and you see them unbothered by the chaos?
You’ve got a good one.

I’ve been there. I once dated a guy with cowboy boots and a gold grill. That’s not a joke—that’s real life. I hid him from my friends and family because I knew there would be backlash. And I was right.

Which brings me to the next point...

🧭 Define the Relationship

Cuffing season is cute, but it’s not always long-term. If you’re dating someone to stay warm this winter, but already planning your Valentine’s Day exit strategy, please don’t introduce them to your family. That’s just messy.

Bringing a temporary fling to a holiday party sends mixed messages—to them and to your family. It sets up false hope and unnecessary drama.

On the other hand, if this person feels like someone you want around after February... by all means, bring them into your world. Your family is probably dying to meet the person who makes you light up when you talk about them.

⏰ Is It the Right Time?

Maybe it’s been a few weeks. Maybe it’s been a few months.
Spoiler: Length doesn’t matter. (Not here, anyway.)

It’s about how you feel.

A wise friend once told me, “When you know, you know.”
It sounds cheesy, but it’s true. When it’s right, it feels different than anything before.

The holidays are one of the most social times of the year. You probably see your family more now than any other time. So if you’re itching to show off your relationship—but you’re unsure—take a step back and run through these questions:

• Are you proud to be with this person?

• Can they roll with your family dynamic?

• Are you in it for the long haul?

If you’re nodding “yes,” then prep your partner for a crash course in family traditions and awkward questions. Because ready or not... it’s time to meet the crew.

My Year in Review

Note to self: I definitely need to blog more… but I digress.

This year has been full of big changes—ones I’m not entirely sure I would’ve made without the Comedian acting as my loving conscience.

First and foremost: After years of insisting my old car still had plenty of life left, I finally said goodbye to my 2003 Mazda Protégé and upgraded to a 2010 Toyota Corolla S. That little Mazda was my first car—the one I drove all through college. I held onto it longer than most would, despite the lack of automatic doors, windows, or even tints (yes, in Florida!). The Comedian was convinced it was going to explode every time something broke. I’d brush him off with my usual stubborn mantra: “The car still has life!” But truthfully, he was just looking out for me. When the timing and finances aligned, I finally took the leap—and no regrets there.

After Lasik surgery. No make up, popped blood vessel. It's all healed now

Second: I got Lasik surgery! I had worn glasses since I was nine and contacts since I was thirteen. Basically, I was legally blind for 21 years. I never liked how glasses looked on me, and they constantly slid down my nose. Getting Lasik was something I always wanted to do—I was just waiting for the right moment. Enter: a longtime friend and Lasik technician I trusted, who just so happened to be part of the team at Lasik Plus. I couldn’t pass it up. Today, I have 20/15 vision. My eyes still get dry occasionally, but that’s normal. And I’m not being paid to say this—I really do love waking up and being able to see the world clearly.

Our new home!

And finally… the biggest moment of all:
The Comedian and I bought a house!
It came together so quickly, it almost felt divine. I’d been dreaming of more space—for our creativity, for Rosco to roam—but I thought it was out of reach. Then one day, something told me to just start asking questions. Call it faith or intuition, but within a month—with the help of our amazing realtor Jane Sloan and the wonderful folks at Absolute Home Loans—we were homeowners.

Funny enough, my vision board (yes, inspired by The Secret) had a 1500 sq. ft. home on it. Every house we saw before this one was smaller—1200, 1300 sq. ft.—and just didn’t feel right. But then came this perfect 1400 sq. ft. house. It felt meant to be. Close enough to the dream to prove that intention and belief really can manifest into reality.

Of course, there were plenty of other highlights this year:
🎓 I started my MBA program at Florida International University
💍 The Comedian and I attended five weddings (and only one baby shower—hallelujah)
🦞 I hosted my first crawfish boil and a high school marching band reunion
💖 And we celebrated our second anniversary!

This year has been a beautiful whirlwind, and I’m so thankful for every minute of it.

Looking ahead to 2015, I’m excited. I’ll graduate with my MBA in May, attend a few more weddings, welcome my niece into the world, and who knows what else is in store?

The years may fly by, but they are filled with memories that make life so sweet.

Live in the moment. Cherish every minute.
Cheers to 2015! 🥂

Just a little bit of the past year

The Next Step

It’s been 10 blissful months with the love of my life—The Comedian.
I might get a little sappy in this post, but I promise there’s a point.

We’re taking the next big step: moving in together.
On Sunday, we picked up the keys to our new apartment—our names side by side on the lease. It’s a simple piece of paper, but it represents something huge. Any step with another person deserves thought and care—but sometimes, you just know it’s right.

At his cousin’s birthday party on Saturday night, The Comedian shared something that melted me. His cousin had asked, “This is a big step—are you ready?” And without hesitation (at least in the version I play in my head), he replied:

“When you know it’s the right person, it’s not such a big step. It’s just what’s supposed to happen.”

Cue the internal cartwheels.

That moment stuck with me—not just because it made me swoon, but because it’s true.
We live in a world saturated by reality TV drama and toxic relationships, so we start believing that love is supposed to be hard. But it doesn’t have to be. Peaceful, steady love is a thing—and I’m living proof.

Before dating The Comedian, a friend once told me, “When you know, you know.”
I didn’t fully understand it back then. But now? I get it. There’s something so sacred about feeling at ease with your partner. In past relationships, I’d find myself worrying:
Do I need to babysit him at social events?
Will he embarrass me in front of friends?
Am I going to be the one carrying all the weight?

With The Comedian, none of that crosses my mind. He shows up. He respects me. He sees me.

He’s taught me what it means to be treated the way a woman deserves to be treated.
With kindness. With presence. With peace.

So here’s what I’ll leave you with:
Don’t settle for chaos. Don’t make excuses for someone else’s bad behavior.
Your partner should feel like your safe space—not your stressor.

In my case, he’s my partner in peace. 💛