Prepping Your Partner to Meet Your Parents
Holiday season is officially upon us. With that comes family time and deciding whether or not you are ready to introduce your significant other to the parents. But how do you know if it is the right time?
Meeting the parents doesn’t have to be a drag. (Photo: Fotosearch)
It varies from person to person, but it is fair to say if you have exchanged “I love yous,” it is probably about time. Unless you are that person who uses that word very loosely, it is safe to say saying those words mean a lot, and you at least hope that person sticks around for a while.
If you are not at that point yet, don’t rush it. You can introduce your partner another time when it feels right. Or if it ends up not working out, you will be happy you didn’t go through with it after all. You don’t have to see marriage and kids with a person to bring them to a family gathering, but you should at least care for them deeply enough that it means something when it happens. Which it should, because it is an important next step in any relationship.
Parental approval is great, but not the be-all, end-all of your relationship. (Photo: Shutterstock)
If you have decided to make the big family intro, what next? While you should want both parties to be themselves, a little prep work never hurts.
Giving your significant other insights into what your parents do and don’t like can be an easy way for them to find something in common or avoid unnecessary drama. And vice versa, giving your parents a little background about your partner can help them make them feel more welcomed. For instance, if your partner is a vegan, your parents would want to know that before cooking a grand feast that your boyfriend or girlfriend can’t eat. Same with any allergies. Meeting the parents is scary, but it shouldn’t be deadly.
Also, just knowing if they have similar hobbies or interests is a very quick icebreaker that is bound to lead to more conversation. Your partner should still be themselves, but you will probably calm their nerves with anything you can share ahead of time.
At the end of the day, if they have nothing in common, who cares? While it is ideal for everyone to get along, what matters is that your partner respects your parents and that your parents do the same and see your partner makes you happy and treats you right. They aren’t dating each other after all. If it isn’t a perfect match, it shouldn’t matter. Technically they will have one guaranteed thing in common, they both love and care about you. Isn’t that all anyone really wants?
