So you’ve been dating for a while now. He makes you smile. After all, he is totally and completely 100 percent into YOU. Whoo hoo! You’ve met each other’s friends and you only have to think his name and a text pops up. That’s how in tune you are. The time has come for you to have the big meeting parents date.

Before you break out into hives imagining nightmare scenarios like the classic Ben Stiller film, “Meet The Parents,” take a deep breath and relax. Our families may all look, speak, worship, and act differently but there’s one thing that they usually have in common, a love for their kids.

Here’s how to prepare for this epic meeting.

1. Be presentable.
Your dark, morbid style makes both emo and grunge look bright and peppy. Or maybe your favorite jeans are so holey that there’s barely any cloth left to cover your booty. You have a right to express yourself with whatever style you (and your parents if you’re underage) deem is acceptable. However, a basic rule of thumb is always dress the way you want to be treated.

If his family is devoutly religious and you show up looking like the hoochie that the cat dragged in, they won’t get past first impressions to know the real you. It sucks that people judge others on the way they look. We agree that clothes don’t make the woman, but show basic respect when meeting someone’s family by looking decent.

2. Be polite.
You sling more slang than Kanye, talk more stuff than Nicki Minaj. Fabulous! However, basic manners go a long way when meeting someone’s family. No one’s saying that you have to pretend to be Princess Kate kissing the queen’s ring. It would just be great if you didn’t leave your BF or GF any reason to explain or apologize after you leave.

Don’t turn into a smarmy butt-kissing jerk, but if you can pet Fluffy, dry a dish or two, or help Lil Sis with her math homework, you’ll score extra points.

3. Be yourself.
Some of us turn into entirely different people when we’re nervous. That’s why it’s important to calm all the way down. Just like your cutie pie told you all about his weird brother with the stinky pizza boxes under his bed, he might have told his fam about you. You know why that’s cool? Because you rock, that’s why.

Don’t be afraid to be yourself. If you sit down to dinner, share something about your family. If you appreciate his mom’s earrings or his dad’s awesome ring, let them know. They want to meet the best version of the real you.

4. Take it easy.
What’s the worst that could happen? The family ends up hating you and tells your lovey dovey to never speak with you again?! We kid you. The chances of that are slim to none.

Your sweetheart is with you because you are a pretty amazing person. Once you meet the fam, they will agree.

If you’re dating someone, have you met his parents yet? Have you ever met the family of someone you’ve dated? Tell us everything in the comments!

Do You Make A Good First Impression? Find Out!

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