Meeting your lovers family for the first time is a huge step in a relationship and also extremely nerve-wracking.
-Be yourself: The most important thing when meeting anybody is to be yourself. If they don’t like you for who you are, the relationship is not likely to last. If this is the case, it is probably best. Remember: always think long-term. If you see yourself with this person for a long time, you are going to be around their family a lot. It’s important to feel comfortable around them.
-Dress and act respectable: Don’t meet your lovers family dressed in torn up jeans, stained clothes, or worse, club clothes. Dress casual, but respectable. Jeans and a nice shirt, or a sundress will work. Do not talk about your lover inappropriately in front of their family, that only makes for an awkward situation for everybody.
-Get interested: If you’re going to be around this persons family for a long time, it helps if you enjoy being around them, and they enjoy being around you. Get interested in their lives! Ask questions about whats going on with them with work or school and find out what they like to do.
-Bond: Once you find out what individual family members like to do, and what interests them you can bond over this. Maybe you will find that you like the same music or shop at the same stores. Plan a day where you can get to know each other better (especially important with siblings).
-Relax: Take a deep breath, this is not the SATs. You are not being judged as critically as you think you are. Most family members just want to ensure that their siblings/son/or daughter is loved wholeheartedly and as long as they see that they are happy, they are happy as well.
