So, three and a half months in and I can’t put it off any longer. Time to meet the folks. And the eldest sister. The mother and sister known for being “take no shit” types. Nickname for the mother? Drill Sergent. Awww yeah.
They all know I’m vegan, right? What is mom planning to prepare for dinner? Beef Stroganof. Sounds like we’re off to a great start already!
So, uh, anyone got any meet the folks advice? Ways to get through the evening unscathed? Or only slightly scathed? I don’t know why I’m so nervous right now, but I really, really am.
About the meal, eat lightly beforehand. At dinner, if dishes are passed, take portions of whatever salad or vegetables go around, but pass on the Stroganoff. If they serve, leave it on your plate, pretending not to notice it. Try to act cheerful anyway. It sucks, but a guest is not supposed to comment on the food, unless it’s a compliment. If mom and sis ask why you didn’t take the beef, simply say, yet again, that you are a vegan. If they insist, or act huffy, stay calm and polite. That always drives 'em crazy!
Yeah, fortunately I don’t think the boyfriend will allow there to be nothing there for me to eat. He’s good like that. I know he’s already had a discussion with her about it. I’m just hoping she doesn’t make something seperate especially for me, that’s always kind of embarrassing. Don’t know why she just can’t make pasta or something simple that everyone can eat. I just don’t get the whole “invite someone over then go out of your way to make sure the main dish is something your guest absolutely cannot eat.” concept. That’d be like me inviting someone lactose intolerant over for dinner and serving cheese enchiladas or something. :rolleyes:
Anyhoo, I’ll make sure I’ve eaten something light beforehand, I always do in situations like this. I’m more worried about the conversational aspect. I’m not too great at the small talk. In fact, I suck at it.
Offer to bring a dish for dinner and cook up a favourite vegan dish. It’s a nice thing to do. It sends a polite message. It establishes the fact that you can’t be pushed around.
I baked a batch of my super-duper-drop-dead-from-the-richness brownies last night that the S.O. practically orgasmed over. He suggested I bring a plate for desert tonight and I’m definately doing so.
So, stacked on a plate covered in saran wrap sound good? Or should I do the fancy schmancy cellophane thing?
As far as the egg noodles go, I’d probably eat 'em to keep the peace since I know they wouldn’t make me sick. Beef Strognaff, though? Not so much.
And thank you, John Carter of Mars. I’m so blissfully happy with this guy it’s like I’m waiting for something to go wrong. I need to stop doing that.
Heh. About to leave for lunch with him and my parents (have I mentioned this is “parents weekend”), but I promise to write a full report upon my return!
Okay, so it went okay. His sister was there as well and is quite the chatty one, which was great. Took a lot of the pressure off of me to make conversation. You could definately tell when she wasn’t in the room, the night would’ve been downright painful without her.
Food was okay, his mom made me pasta separate from the beef stroganoff and served everyone seperate, so it wasn’t too obvious. And everyone loved my brownies.
He said his parents told him he was lucky when he talked to them today. But of course! Lunch with my parents was a little more entertaining. A few embarassing moments (including the one when my stepdad informed the waitress he was meeting his daughter’s boyfriend for the first time…) but all is well and parent’s weekend has been survived. Yay!
Now I just have to meet his 7 year old daughter. :eek:
Barbie, Braatz, Polly Pockets, American Girl Books & Dolls, books, Little House on the Prairie will probably be coming up soon in her age group.
If you can survive the boyfriends parents, you can survive a 7 year old girl. ( Worse case scenario is at this age, you can bribe them so easy with , say , a one dollar bill.)
Yes, well, stepdaughters! I thought I had escaped and would be able to pass through life without ever wearing a tux. With only two sons, there would never be a bride to give away, etc.
Then I acquired a stepdaughter and had to put a tux on to give her away at her wedding. I wouldn’t trade anything for the experience. Gotta’ love a stepdaughter!
So glad your Weekend of Parents went well. Trust Shirley on the seven year-old. Piece o’ cake.
Yeah, well, I hope it’ll be easy. The psycho mother has already been planting delightful little seeds of knowledge in her cute little head like “daddy’s new friend hates kids.”
Have I mentioned I’ve never met the psycho X?
It’s taken a little pressure from his family and friends for him to even set up this meeting with me and his daughter (they all like me, hate the X with a passion) due to the fact he hasn’t wanted to “set the psycho off”. So this too should be interesting!
I’m thinking “friendly without seeming desperate for her to like me” is the type of vibe to go in with…
Reminds me of the year my vegetarian aunt hosted Thanksgiving and insisted she make The Turkey. The rest of us tried to convince her that whatever she wanted to make woudl be fine, she’s an excellent cook, we’d love it, etc. (Background: this was before my family realized that we pretty much all don’t like turkey and started cooking food we like for holidays. )
