One day, you’ll become a parent too and this whole nightmare will be behind you. You’ll be laughing with your husband or wife about your experiences – good and bad – that had to do with meeting the parents for the first time. But for now, you need to face reality and be prepared to meet the parents. Here are some tips to remember for this crucial step in your relationship:
- Wear your Sunday best. While your physical appearance may not matter to your partner at this point, do be aware that first impressions last. For once in your relationship, it wouldn’t hurt if you dress up nice for this extra special event. We’re sure he or she will only appreciate your more for putting in the effort.
- Expect the unexpected. Not all first-time meetings will be good. And having this mindset will only better prepare you of what’s to come. The important thing is not to get everything right the first time, but rather to know how to recover from even the most disastrous of first meetings.
- Be yourself. Sometimes, putting up a good front takes over your real intentions. Remember, if you are meant to be together for a lifetime, you can’t keep showing just the best of you. So, try to be nice and polite but remember to act natural. It’s best to show them your multi-faceted personality early in the game to avoid any hassles later on in life.
- Listed to your partner. He or she would know his/her parents best. So don’t refuse tips and listen when he does give you good advice.
- Take into account differences in culture and tradition. Some cultures require you to give the mother flowers when you meet them for the first time. Other cultures are more touchy-feely and you need to learn to do your air kisses (beso in Latin American cultures). Some Asian cultures require you to be vocal about how much you like the food to be appreciative of the culinary delight you had for dinner. Be open to the differences between the way you and your partner grew up. Understanding these also means knowing more about your partner.