7 Handy Tips To Ensure You Make A Great Impression On Your Boyfriends Parents

Meeting your boyfriend’s parents always feels a little daunting. You may have been in your relationship only a few weeks or maybe many months or years. Maybe you know loads about them or very little. Whatever the circumstances, when it comes to meeting your boyfriend’s parents face-to-face for the first time, it is always good to be prepared.These 7 handy tips ensure you make a great impression when meeting your boyfriend’s parents. And that the meeting goes as smoothly as possible.

# Understand what it means

Before you even arrange a date to meet your boyfriend’s parents, discuss it with your partner. Be sure you are both on the exact same page as to what this means for your relationship.

Usually if you meet them for the first time early on, it is probably more informal. If your partner keeps you away from them for months, then it may well be more significant for them. They finally decided it is “the right time” for you to be introduced.

Of course, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to this. It may be that your partner’s parents live a long distance away so they don’t get to see them that often themselves. They may not be that close to them, or just not think it is that much of a big deal.

Understanding the significance for them and communicating what it means to you means you both understand each others feelings about the event, including both your expectations of it.

# Do your research

Maybe you already know little details about your boyfriend’s parents before the big meet-up. However, be over-prepared! Make sure find to find out as much as you can about them before arriving.

We aren’t suggesting you go on a full-blown internet stalking mission here. Just sit down with your partner and find out their names *this is pretty important!*, what they do or did for a job, and if they have any particular hobbies or interests. That way you come up with thoughtful and insightful questions to ask, which are particularly handy if conversation runs dry.

# Be on time

Whatever you do don’t be late. Everyone sitting around waiting for you to turn up immediately makes a bad impression, particularly if you go for a home-cooked meal. Treat the first meeting as a job interview—would you arrive late to that? We didn’t think so.

# Bring a gift

A great way to get in their good books and impress the parents is to bring a gift along. This is particularly true if you visit their home, but under any circumstance a thoughtful gift shows them you are generous, kind, and polite. Who wouldn’t want their child to have a partner like that?

# Dress to impress

Pick your outfit carefully. Most initial meet-ups are likely to be visiting your partner’s parents in their home or going out for a nice meal. Make sure you plan what you are going to wear whatever the occasion and dress appropriately for it.

You don’t want their initial reaction to be raised eyebrows and exchanged glances when you turn up in heels and the tiniest of miniskirts for Sunday lunch. You don’t want to feel uncomfortable and out of place if you dress in jeans and trainers and end up in a swanky restaurant.

Choose an outfit that is smart and comfortable, and as inoffensive as possible. Remember parents are unlikely to judge you on your fashion sense so there is no need to go wild!

# Obey the rules

Each household has its own way of doing things, be it making sure you take your shoes off before coming inside, not swearing, always letting the dad have his seat at the head of the table. It is important to respect the family rules and stick to them.

Make sure your partner tells you anything you need to know before arriving. The last thing you want to do is sit, go somewhere, do something you shouldn’t just because they failed to tell you.

# Make yourself useful

If you have been invited for dinner, don’t just sit there and expect to be waited on hand and foot. Ask if there is anything you can do to help prepare the meal, be the first to get up to clear the dishes, or offer to take the dog for a walk afterwards. If you go out for a meal, make sure you offer to pay your share.