This is it! The moment you’ve been anticipating. Your first time…meeting his parents.
You’ve reached that pivotal moment in your relationship and a million questions are running through your mind. What should you wear? Will they like you? Will they think you’re good enough for their son? Will it be awkward?
Here are 5 simple tips to help ensure his parents are just as impressed with you as your guy is!
1. Dress appropriately.
It should go without saying that you don’t want to have your goodies hanging out when meeting his parents. Even if that’s how you met their son. Nothing could be worse than dad oogling your cleavage while mom is pissed her son brought some harlot to her home. Think of it like a job interview. You want your possible future “employers” (in-laws) to take you seriously and offer you a position. Before you have the chance to open your mouth, their first impression of you will be what you look like and what you have on. You want to comfortable within your own style, just keep it classy. Need tips on what to wear? We’ve got you covered!
2. Bring something.
Don’t come empty handed. Keep it simple, though.
Flowers, an auromatic candle, or a nice picture frame will do the trick. If you’ve been invited over for a family dinner, bring the dessert (bonus points if it’s homemade). Show that you’re thoughtful and happy to be meeting them. A little goes a long way.
3. Know their names.
This may seem silly, but it’s one of those things that could make a huge difference. His parents may be old-fashioned and prefer you calling them ma’am or sir or address them as Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Don’t automatically assume you can address them on a first name basis or by their family nickname on your first encounter. And you definitely don’t want to start calling them “mom” and “dad” just yet. He may have been raised by a single mother who has a different last name than his. Save yourself the embarrassment and find out beforehand.
4. Be nice.
Another obvious one, but its key. You want to be friendly and outgoing, but don’t go overboard. Chances are his mom has met a few previous girlfriends and can see right through the bull. Relax. Smile. Don’t be afraid to disagree with something or to say “no, thank you.” If you were invited over for dinner, offer to help clean up. A simple gesture that shows a lot about your character. Show that you were raised to have manners and you’ll do just fine.
5. Do a little digging.
Find out from your honey what’s his dad’s favorite sports teams or his mom’s favorite hobby. Ask to see old family photos. That will definitely get them talking!
You’ll avoid awkward silences and appear to be genuinely interested in getting to know them. Don’t be afraid to tell his dad that you thought his team deserved their last loss and that their quarterback sucks. He’ll like the fact that you know a little about sports and happy that his son found a woman with a little spunk! Suggest that his mom show you how she sewed the dress she has on or how she cooked tonight’s meatloaf. The key is to find a little common ground and to get them to be comfortable having you around without overdoing it.
*Bonus: Don’t jump to conclusions.
Just because you’re meeting his parent(s) today, it doesn’t mean he’s going to ask you to marry him tomorrow.
For some guys, having you meet his parents is no a big deal. For others, having their mom’s approval is like getting a ticket to open the golden gates. A good way to gage the significance of the moment is by paying attention to your guy. If he makes a big deal out of it, then trust and believe this is a big test for you. If he acts nonchalant and barely bothers to introduce you..then chances are your relationship might be a bit more casual than you assumed. Regardless, making a good impression is important. Especially if you can see yourself in this relationship for the long haul.
While first impressions are everything, you want to remember to be yourself. After all, you’ve already won over the person who matters most.
Have you meet your beaus parents? Got any tips?
