Meeting your partner’s parents is a pretty big deal in any relationship. What their parents think about you is probably pretty important to them, and that can be a lot of pressure. It is important to remember that your partner’s parents, like most parents, just want the best for their child, and for them to be with someone who respects them and makes them happy. To make sure the first meeting goes as smoothly as it can do (and it’s not a repeat of the Meet the Parents movie!), here are some conversations you should have beforehand.
Get your story straight
Are you willing to tell their parents how you met? If you met completely wasted at a bar, for example, you might want to clean the story up a little. If you don’t want to explain that you met on Tinder (there’s no shame in that, of course, but parents might not get it), you should both know exactly what story you’re going with; otherwise, it could be very awkward!
Your family’s religious views
Do your parents always say grace before eating? Are they strong believers of one specific religion, or do they think that all religion is nonsense? Make sure your partner knows the score before the big meeting as the last thing they will want to do is accidentally put their foot in it! Hopefully, both your parents and your partner will respect each other’s differences, but it does help for them to be forewarned.
Your family’s political views
None of us should be judged on our family’s beliefs on things, but it’s only fair to give your partner the heads up. That way they can choose to stay away from controversial topics, especially on the first meeting. Of course, that doesn’t mean that they should pretend that their views are different from what they are, but it helps to be prepared to avoid accidentally starting a fierce argument.
The family rules
There are a lot of unspoken rules in a family household, and it helps to clue your partner in on these before they meet the parents. For example, would your parents appreciate being called Mr. and Mrs. until they say otherwise? If you’re staying the night, will your conservative family expect you to be in separate rooms? Knowing this information will hopefully help your partner feel more prepared to meet your parents, and make the whole meeting go smoother.
These conversations should make you both feel more relaxed about the meeting, as you are as prepared as you can be. Remember, if your parents don’t like your partner, it’s not the end of the world – it’s most important that you love them. Sometimes first meetings can be a little tense and awkward, but that doesn’t mean that it is always going to be that way. Give your partner plenty of support and try not to put too much pressure on them. After all, you think they’re great, and hopefully, your parents will too!
