Meeting The Parents For The First Time: Summer Edition

By Francine Fluetsch on May 18, 2015

So it’s getting close to summer time (or for some of you lucky ducks, it already is), which means that if you and your significant other don’t live in the same place, you’re going to have to make time to see each other and … meet the parents.

image via quotespics.com

Meeting parents for the first time can cause some anxiety for people, since they don’t want to do anything weird, and it is a big step in the relationship. So here’s some advice for meeting the parents and staying at your significant other’s house over the summer.

Dress to impress:

You don’t want to go too fancy, but you really want to make sure you look presentable.

Ladies: I would stay away from ripped jeans, even if the holes are small–they tend to rub adults the wrong way. If jeans are your attire of choice, pair it with a cute top that is slightly on the fancier side. I love dresses, so that is what I would personally choose, but make sure it isn’t too short or too revealing on top. Once you’ve met the parents a few times, you can relax a bit more about what you are wearing, but for the first meeting, almost pretend like you are going to a job interview.

Guys: Make sure your clothes are clean, not wrinkly, and I’d probably stay away from graphic Tee’s, just because some parents get offended very easily. A nice button down never hurt anyone, and pairing it with dark washed jeans would look great.

Stay true to your style and don’t wear something that is not you, but also don’t get too casual and wear what you would wear to a kick back at a friend’s house.

What to talk about:

Rule of thumb, don’t talk about politics, mainly because things can get ugly and you want them to like you. You could ask your S/O about things their family likes, so you’ll already have a heads up about what to bring up in an awkward pause. Hopefully, however, they will be asking you things, and all you have to do is smile and answer.

Remember to just always be polite, even if they rub you the wrong way. This situation is new for them too, and parents can be pretty protective. I know it’s hard, but try not to think too much about what you should say. Just let it flow naturally, with a slight filter of course; you wouldn’t want to be cussing or saying how you and your S/O got drunk the other weekend (talk about awkward).

Sleeping situation:

If the parents don’t want you and your S/O to sleep in the same room, respect their wishes. I know that is not the ideal situation, but imagine getting caught sneaking into your partner’s room in the middle of the night. Let’s just say, the chances of the parents liking you will severely go down.

Hopefully, after they get to know you, they would feel more comfortable with the two of you sharing a room, but you are probably going to have to work up to that, so just a heads up. But don’t worry, there are plenty of other ways to get alone time, so don’t let it be a total disappointment.

Mind your manners:

You really want to be on your best behavior when going to meet the parents. Thank them for dinner, compliment them on their home, laugh at their jokes, but also mean it. You don’t want to be putting on a show that they can tell you are faking. Basically, just put in your best effort to be nice and respectful, and I’m sure things will go much smoother than you were anticipating.

Bond with siblings:

Parents aren’t the only test you will need to pass, the siblings will be watching you as well. The older siblings may pick on you in order to gauge how you will react. The younger siblings may not want to talk to you, because you are some new, scary person that they have to sit with at dinner.

While this can seem like a lot, really try to get to know them. Your partner should help you out, so if you and the sibling have something in common, you’ll be able to talk about it.

“Oh Sasha, Jim likes watching ‘The Walking Dead’ just like you.”

Having a small segue like this is a wonderful way for you to get your in. Who knows, you and the family could have a lot in common.

The key thing to remember is to be yourself, just a more cleaned up version of you. You don’t want to go in there and pretend to be someone you aren’t, but you also want to be conscious of what you are saying and making a good impression. Parents are always going to be picky about who their child is dating, so give them some time, and make the summer count.

Who knows, you could really win them over!

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format