 As many of us discover in our
first years of dating, there are certain events which seem to mark the
evolution of a relationship. Your girlfriend may feel comfortable enough
to actually invite you home to meet her parents. The sound you’re now
hearing is a thousand male tyres screeching to a halt.
 Meeting her parents for the first time does not have to resemble all
of those sitcom and movie storylines about disastrous first impressions.
If you can keep your wits about you, meeting her parents can actually
turn out to be a very enlightening experience. If you ever want to
understand how someone’s mind truly works, just visit her childhood home
for two hours.
First of all, it’s important to understand the significance of this
first meeting from her point of view. She knows the level of scrutiny a
boyfriend might face, and she also understands the reasons behind that
scrutiny.
Keep the following tips in mind:
1. Forewarned is forearmed. Long before the actual meeting; try to
find out as much about her parents as you can. Ask her if they are
sensitive about certain topics, such as religion or alcohol or politics.
Do they have interesting careers or hobbies, whether they are liberal or
conservative, what sort of entertainment do they prefer? The more you
can learn from your girlfriend, the less likely you are to offend her
parents unknowingly.
2. Key off your girlfriend’s behaviour. Meeting near-strangers is
already difficult, so it helps to follow the lead of someone who knows
them much better. Keep an eye on her demeanor around her parents- is she
completely at ease, slightly formal or seized with fear? There’s almost
always an exaggeration of personality during awkward events, but the way
she’s behaving should be a clue for your own.
3. Dress for success, but not necessarily for a wedding. A clean
appearance can make a good first impression, but try to find a balance
between your own style and a more formal one. It’s better to present
yourself as someone who is comfortable in his own skin, not trying too
hard to be presentable. Leave the t-shirts and worn jeans at home,
obviously, but dress at the same level as your girlfriend. Try not to
accessorize with anything controversial.
4. You will be under scrutiny, so avoid going over the top. Remember
that her parents are also people who have never met you before this
particular evening. They may not understand your sense of humour or
tastes in music or opinion on political issues. This is not the time to
demonstrate all three at once.
5. Don’t worry if the first meeting does not go well. Parents and
their children often have conflicts when it comes to dating. Parents
look for different qualities in a prospective son-in-law than your
girlfriend might.
Parents tend to look towards the future- a promising career,
emotional stability, and long-term goals.
- e-ssortment
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