Hey-
Was just wondering if there were any tips on meeting your girlfriend’s parents for the first time… Especially in light of the new and probably quite funny movie on that topic coming out soon.
Any major “Don’ts”?
or “Dos”?
What is the right thing to call them anyways? Mr/Mrs X? by their first name? Or just, Hey You? 
Just curious:)
Chris
Formerly Michael Hunt but changed to a more “serious” nick:)
Well, take a cue from your SO, she knows them after all. It’s not as though every parent on earth is like every other parent and one size fits all.
But I would suggest you don’t try too hard to impress, don’t suck up, don’t be anything other than who you truly are, don’t lie, and don’t be afraid to be wrong.
Be polite and courteous, however, even if it flies in the face of the previous advice.
What you call them is what they are introduced to you as. If she says “my parents”, call them Mr/Mrs until invited to do otherwise.
My tips… and I did pretty well meeting my SO’s folks, considering that he was a 21 year old skinny Japanese kid and I was a 36 year old worldly and extra-large white woman. It went ok, and now more than 5 years and an engagment ring later we get along just fine.
stoid
Thanks:)
That was some good advice and was sort of what I was thinking…
I did ask my GF to casually ask her parents what they would prefer I call em when I get down there…
Her mom’s answer? “Mom”… Which doesn’t bother me, who knows:D
Chris
All sounds like good advice, but then I’m a girl so I wouldn’t know very much about such things, guys tend to come see my parents instead of vice versa. I’ve had rather bad luck with parents anyway. Be sure you’re prepared when they show up, a bad comment to your SO with their parents in the room can color their impression of you, it’s happened to me too many times.
Kitty
Just remember, particularly if she’s teh oldest, you could be an All-pro linebacker who won the Nobel Prize for curing cancer in the offseason, model for GQ on days off, and raise seeing-eye dogs, and you still won’t be good enough for Daddy’s Little Princess in their eyes.
And remember, they smell fear (especially the ones with guns).
woo-hoo, have I got a story for you!
One of my very good female friends has the worst father to bring a boy home to. he is absolutley a great man, once he gets to know you, but the first time meeting, you’d better bring spare pants.
a typical meeting.
Twisty’s friend: Hello Dad, I’d Like you to meet boy X.
Dad: good evening, young man.
Dad shakes boys hand. takes out Polaroid camera. takes picture of Boy X.
Boy X: Why did you take a picture of me, Mr. _______
Dad: Incase I ever have to go looking for you.
box x now can either laugh, look scared, or run out of the house.
if the boy sticks around, Dad will sit him down and be very friendly to him. boy X now knows not to mess with Daddie’s little girl.
her father has never had to use the picture.
Well here is how I met my husband’s father… your mileage may vary:
He was in town staying with his dad for Thanksgiving weekend, and late one night he surprised me by dropping by my house. We were just really good friends at this time. We went out to Denny’s and then to his dad’s house to go in the jaccuzi. Later we ended up in the living room having a tickling fight as quietly as possible to avoid waking his dad up… and one thing led to another.
In the morning, asleep in his arms on the living room floor, I heard a startled giggle: his dad’s reaction, upon seeing some strange, bald-headed girl asleep in his living room.
Of course, his dad is very liberal, you might not have as positive an experience.
My wife (girlfriend at the time), who is black, was trying to think of a way to tell her father that she was dating a white man. Knowing that he is a Bruce Lee fan, she told him that I had all of Bruce Lee’s movies and that he could borrow them. My future FIL replied, “Oh yeah? Great. You know, the white man killed Bruce Lee.”
PlantMan, depends how old you are & perhaps how old they are. Best to ask the girl/boyfriend how to approach them to score the big points.
Before I spend anytime with a teenage girl, I meet her folks, one or both. It always goes very well.
Dress well, show respect for your S.O. and her parents, and always use Sir and M’am. Make mental notes of what you see in their house that has any connection to you and comment upon it. When the appropriate situation presents itself, comment on how wonderful your S.O. is. If your intentions ARE honorable, be sure to tell them so. Don’t wear ANY sort of hat in the house, and avoid belching or farting too loudly and you should do just fine.
Us Chris’ gotta stick together,
Chris
I first met my future-wife’s parents when they came down to visit her and to take their foster son to Paramount’s King’s Dominion (amusement park). I was asked to go with them the night before, then hit the park first thing the next day. Thing was, I didn’t know their foster son was coming along.
They came to my townhouse on the way out. Her parents were OK (a little on the quiet side). But I was really taken aback by their foster son. He’s actually an adult, but somewhat stunted mentally/socially. Plus, he’s rather a hulking figure. I thought, “Omigod, if that’s her brother, it’s over!” Of course, he wasn’t. I gathered my bag and we were off.
We went to a Appleby’s-style restaurant for dinner in Richmond. As a good-faith gesture, I paid for the table’s bill. Then we went back to our motel.
We had two rooms. My future-father-in-law, the foster son, and I were going to share one, and my future-mother-in-law and girlfriend the other. As we started to get settled in, FMIL comes up from her room and suggests that we swap. :D:D:D Not acting too eager, I say OK and go downstairs (running after the door closed). Once there, I realized I forgot to pack something, and ran to the local convenience store for prophilactics. :D:D
was that it seemed that I bought my girlfriend from her father for dinner in Richmond. What a deal! :D:D