Getting to meet your girlfriend’s parents for the first time can be a daunting experience.
While your girlfriend has already laid some groundwork by telling them what a great guy you are, you’re still going to have to live up to the hype. Whether it’s lunch at their house or a simple get together, your first time meeting her parents is an event that deserves preparation.
Here are some important things to take note of:
1. Dress to impress.
Look sharp. The way you dress says a lot about you, so you’re going to want to send the right message to her parents, since it shapes how they’ll picture you for the rest of the relationship. It’s always safe to do the full formal dress. Don a suit and tie. The mother will think you look presentable and the father will appreciate the effort. It’s a win-win entrance into your girlfriend’s family.
Image: Instagram (@kingkaka)
2. Keep time.
First impressions last, and nothing makes a worse first impression than arriving late. Punctuality is the hallmark of a responsible and considerate person—exactly the kind of guy they want their daughter to continue seeing.
Photo: Poka Arts
3. Make sure you answer the question ”What do you do?” correctly.
Even if they already heard about what you do, her parents will still ask this question. You might be lying to their daughter after all. Who knows? When her parents ask about your work, you should hit them with a quick but impressive summary of what you do. Even if you are super-successful, keep it short to avoid appearing like you are too full of yourself. If they want to know more, they’ll ask.
Image: courtesy
4. Address them with respect.
Remember to call them Mr. and Mrs. so and so until they tell you otherwise. Not “David,” not “Fathe,” or “Mathe” and definitely not “Mama so and so”.
Image: courtesy
5. Make sure the story of how you met matches with that of your girlfriend.
It’s entirely possible your girlfriend has lied about how you met to try to impress her parents. If there are any embellishments to the story, you’ll want to know them. If she lied, you will have to lie too. Just the same way she did. So make sure you ask her first.
Images by Kefeller Photography
6. Have cool table manners.
Consuming food is such a simple thing to do, and yet so many fail on the most elementary etiquette. Remember to keep your mouth closed when chewing. Don’t talk with your mouth full, and make sure that your face is at head height, rather than buried in your bowl. Whether food or alcohol, no matter how much you want to indulge, just lay back a little. Gluttons and drunkards do not a good impression make.
Images by Jay Franklyn Phoenix Jituboh
7. No private jokes with your girlfriend.
There’s always a time and a place to refer to your girlfriend in a jokingly or teaseful manner—if she’s in on the joke, of course—but in front of her parents is not one of those times.
Image: Phresh_Awt
8. Know the topics to avoid.
Before meeting the parents, find out from your girl what topics her parents either get stressed over or will talk about for hours on end. Avoid these, and you’ll keep the conversation snappy and fun.
9. Know your future plans and make sure they sound good.
There’s going to be a point during the evening when the father corners you and starts, albeit politely, interrogating you about future plans. You see, parents want to know that their little girl is hooking up with someone who has a future—someone who can provide—and if all you can say is “Well, I’m just comfortable repairing computers,” then you ain’t gonna be in for an easy ride.
10. Watch your body language.
Sit straight, keep eye contact, and don’t slouch. Poor body language can undermine all your hard work in one fell swoop.
Image: mofedamijo/Instagram
11. Have an exit strategy.
Have a plan for how/when you’ll excuse yourself for the day or night. Having something else planned for later in the evening is good, as is having to go to bed early the day before a big project. When things start winding down, you can pull the ripcord and leave. What you don’t want to do is stay until the bitter end — leave on a high note and they’ll look forward to seeing you again.
Image: FreedomForce
Now you don’t need to be afraid anymore. Also, read about these types of parents we have all experienced.
The post 11 Things To Remember When Meeting Your Girlfriend’s Parents For The First Time appeared first on OMGVoice.Com.