Meeting your partner’s parents for the first time is incredibly nerve-racking; you need to make a good impression without them thinking you’re a total bore. It’s so easy to make a mess of their first impressions so to help you through this painful first-meet, I am going to give you 10 do-not’s for meeting your partner’s parents for the first time.
We all know how important it is to have a laugh with your potential in-laws so it’s acceptable if you do a little bit of bullying on your partner so that they join in and hopefully tell you a few hilarious stories about them. However, there’s a fine line between having a little laugh and making continuous jokes; not only will it look like you’re trying way too hard, they will be waiting for you to shut up because they are a little offended.
Remember, this is the first day you have ever met, hun.
Oppositely to the last point, sitting there in silence equals major creep. You need to find a good balance between chatting too much and taking over to having nothing to say at all. I’m sure a lot of people find someone who’s all quiet and shy adorable but they definitely won’t find it cute if you’re just sat there smiling because it will make the whole situation very awkward and your partner’s parents will be texting your partner to get rid as soon as you leave.
Giving too many compliments will also make it look like you’re trying way too hard. Saying to your partner’s parents “You have a lovely home” or “It’s been great meeting you’ are totally acceptable compliments which will gain you a place in their good books even more so.
On the other hand, making comments such as “I see where *partners name* gets their good looks from” will not only look like you’re low-key flirting but it’s also slightly inappropriate when you don’t know where their humour level is at.
This one comes hand in hand with the last point. Sucking up to somebody is not only very cringe but it’s also very annoying; It’s nice taking an interest to your partner’s parents but constantly asking them questions, laughing at their awful jokes and just being a bit of a brown-noser is just way too much. Just make it clear you are looking forward to meeting them, interested in getting to know them and how happy their child makes you.
Most of us have such an awful laugh when we get fully set off and that’s a-ok. If your partner’s parents are hilarious then laugh away but if they really aren’t, a little chuckle will suffice; if you’re forcing out that laugh not only will you look like a mental case but everyone in that room will be scared of you.
We have already touched on this but there’s taking an interest with the subtle compliments and odd question or there’s bombarding them with personal questions that they might not want to tell you on your first meeting.
Asking about your partner is going to be a given but if you’re say asking about their past or about family affairs they might be a little hesitant to answer this soon so just chill out and let them do most of the question asking.
This last one is probably the most obvious but we all know how easy it is to let out a little trump or burp. So if you’re ever in need of relieving a little gas, just try and hold it in or if that fails, ask where the toilet is, capiche?
Your partner’s parents may give you the green light to “make yourself at home” but out of respect maybe just sit comfortably rather than putting your feet up on the sofa and going into the kitchen to fix yourself a snack. You might think nobody in their right mind would be able to go into a stranger’s kitchen at their own accord but anybody can surprise you.
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