On some level, we all know the importance of first impressions. We all subconsciously strive to become the best versions of ourselves but the reality is – some days we just do not feel like maintaining that version. Those are the times where you may have met someone and later on beat yourself up for having made a bad first impression.
This is especially apparent in the online dating world. As a guy, you have a small window to present yourself in a good fashion and establish a good first impression to be able to stand out from the rest of the folks; after all, you want to be remembered. It is a privilege that you can now gauge and compare the interactions you have had with others’ interactions. This way, you can see where you might have gone wrong. Experts from https://beyondages.com/ emphasize the importance of self-awareness, also adding that you should keep in mind that too much thinking can also be detrimental.
More anxiety-inducing than this is the thought of meeting your girlfriend’s parents for the first time. Even if you are the best salesperson — meeting the parents of your significant other can be intimidating. Scroll through to learn more about the things you can do to make that experience smoother next time you find yourself in this situation.
Do Your Due Diligence
There are many milestones that you naturally reach when you are in a healthy relationship. Staying overnight for the first time and meeting each other’s friends are healthy and enjoyable milestones. Meeting her parents might not be so enjoyable!
You obviously do not need us to tell you that you should be listening carefully to what your girlfriend is sharing with you about her life. However, you should, at all times, be particularly attentive to what she shares about her family. This is your homework for when you face that inevitable, dreadful question: “would you like to meet my parents?”
This is where you strictly focus on mitigating all the uncertainties that are on the horizon. Ask her questions. What does her mother like in a partner? What are her pet-peeves? Which other family member is going to be present? Knowing the answers to these questions will help reduce any surprises along the way.
Attire
Let us admit it, we have all had moments where we’ve formed a certain opinion on someone and in hindsight realized that part of the opinion was shaped by the way they were dressed. This does not mean that you are innately a bad person — it means that you are a human like the rest of us. We are visual beings essentially. A well-dressed person exudes confidence and conscientiousness while the contrary is often perceived negatively.
It is crucial that you put the time into dressing up properly. This holds true even if the gathering was held at their house and not at a restaurant. In doing so, you are one step ahead in proving to them that you are a responsible individual with good intentions. After all, it is up to you to prove to the parents that you are worthy of dating their daughter.
Invest In A Gift
If it happens that the meeting is indeed at their house, then invest in a small gift if you want to make an indelible first impression. Going overboard on this could yield a different outcome — a cheesy one, if you will. So make sure that your gift does not seem like a bribe for approval. You do not need to bring an expensive gift with you. A nice bottle of wine could very well do the job!
Be Confident
There is a good chance you expected this one! That is right, coming off as a confident person is a sure-fire way of gaining the trust of her parents. An unconfident aura reeks of insecurities and this, in the eyes of her parents, is a huge red flag as it implies that you are not worthy of dating their daughter and that you are not a potential partner that their daughter can be safe with.
Confidence is an elusive notion. We all want to be confident, and on some level, we all know what it takes. In practicality, however, it is not as clear as we would like it to be when we find ourselves stressed-out in the face of a situation like meeting your girlfriend’s parents.
There are small tricks here and there that you could apply to become or at least come off as a confident person. Remember that practice makes perfect, so next time you are in a social gathering, pay particular attention to how you naturally present yourself and what your posture radiates to others around you. Try out new ways of expressing yourself and look for patterns along the way.
Show That You Care
Granted that you are already a loving and affectionate partner, you might want to show her parents that you treat their daughter with respect and affection. Of course, you should know your limit but a hand on her shoulder could subtly show her parents that you care about their daughter.
Not All Parents Are The Same
Another thing to consider is cultural differences. If your girlfriend happens to be of a different background than yours, make sure that you are familiar with the ins and outs of her culture as this can come in handy during your interaction with her family. In any case, it is impossible to know for sure what to expect from her parents. At the end of the day, you can only control your own actions.
Why Is All This Important?
If you are of the opinion that you should be yourself at all times and if you think that by applying these tips, you are being inauthentic — think again! It is one thing to be inauthentic and it is entirely another thing to be self-aware of your behaviors, so that you can become a better person. Therefore, mastering the art of making great first impressions is necessary, to say the least.
When we are anxious in a social gathering, oftentimes our bodies will not do us any favors in calming us; instead, our heart races, hence we may display a body language that could be interpreted as inauthentic. Remember, coming off as genuine needs time and practice. Applying the tips discussed here is a great way to becoming more confident now that you’ve got some tricks up your sleeve.
