Deciding when it is the right time to introduce your boyfriend or girlfriend to your parents is a tricky thing. It’s a very big step and in some cases, it means that you are highly considering committing to each other and in other cases, it means that you are well-beyond commitment. Now, the time has come to see if he or she will mesh well with the parental unit.
Questions to ask before the meet
Are your parents strict? How do your parents feel about you dating someone? Do they know much about this person? Is your partner ready to step in and meet them? How serious are you about each other? How long have you been together? Does your partner need a little more time? Do you need a little more time? These are just a handful of the many questions that you need to be able to answer before introducing your partner to your parents.
Discussing the relationship first
Before you jump over the edge into the pool of sharks, make sure you and your significant other sit down to discuss what your relationship is, and what it may become. Be clear with each other about how you both feel so that when the time comes to introduce him or her to your parents, everyone is on the same page about your level of dedication. You don’t want to end up in any kind of situation when a parent refers to him or her with the title of “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” if you haven’t officially set that in stone.
Talking about the family
Warn your person of any quirky family tendencies or sensitive subjects. You may have you’re your partner about a personal piece of family information (which is good because that means you have a sense of trust), but it may not be something that your mother or father may be ready to discuss. They may not even be comfortable knowing that this person is aware of it. Tell your partner where his or her limits should stand to ensure that nothing slips. Also, do your parents the courtesy of notifying them of any odd details that may catch them off-guard. Does your partner have sleeves of tattoos? Many facial piercings? Does she have a huge rack that she likes to flaunt? This kind of thing is important, especially for mothers, to know ahead of time so they have a chance to prepare..
What to know ahead of time
If you are the person meeting the family, make sure you know the names of everyone you will be introduced to before you get there. It will show them that you and your boyfriend or girlfriend have talked about them before. When couples discuss families to the point where one can match a name to a face, it displays a level of seriousness. It will also just be the polite thing to do so you don’t accidently forget a name throughout the visit. But, when you first get there, address her parents as Mr. and Mrs. until they give you permission to call them by name.
How to dress
Also, dress appropriately for not only your first, but all of your visits. You don’t want his or her parents thinking that their baby is dating a skank or a person who doesn’t give a care about how they look. A smart and semi-sophisticated outfit will do the trick. As you get to know them, you will get the subliminal green-light to start dressing a little more like you are at home
Treating the family well
If you are there to meet your girlfriend’s family, treat her well during (well, and after) your visit. Open doors, offer to grab her a drink, pull out her chair, be affectionate – but not overly affectionate, and show your interest in her. Parents need to see that you care. The manner in which you treat her can speak a thousand words about your character.
Talking to the parents
Have real conversations with her parents and be interested in what they have to say instead of being the shy boyfriend/girlfriend that avoids eye contact and stays glued to the hip of their partner. Their parents want their son or daughter to be with someone who is willing and wanting to get to know them. They want to be able to hold an intelligent conversation with you and they want you to be comfortable with communicating with them.Before you make the decision to bring your significant other to your parents, you must make sure that you are both ready and committed. Not only is this step big because you are introducing your boyfriend or girlfriend to your family, but you are also covering a milestone that will determine if this relationship can happen. The family’s approval is one of the most important aspects of this step. If things go well, he or she will be a serious part of both you and your family’s lives so it’s vital that things go well. The first impression is the best impression.
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