When you are meeting their family for the first, second or umpteenth time you must avoid doing certain things and these are
Giving Your Advice
Many times family members that get together at a party do have a lot to catch up on. Their ups and downs especially are high on the list of catching up conversations. So if they ask you for your advice, don’t give it, they’re just trying to be kind to you and make you feel part of the conversation. In the same vein if one person starts giving advice, even if you don’t agree, don’t say anything.
Even when you get closer and are comfortable speaking freely, do your best to hold back on any critique or negative comments you may have. Whether it’s about their home, their cooking, or even personal choices, just don’t say anything. There’s no need to put you in a bad spot.
Your job is to nod and smile and keep your opinion to yourself and politely say that you have no advice to give and are sorry for what they are going through, if it is bad. If good, congratulate them and smile. Trying to act closer than you actually are and start to give and comment on advice will only set you up for failure.
Dominating the Conversation
Yes, you may have more knowledge and even be in the know of certain things but do not dominate the conversation. Don’t make it all about you. It’s a two-way street which means let others get to be part of the conversation.
Include others in the conversation, ask questions but not too personal and for goodness sake avoid any topics that will cause tempers to flare. Be on your best behavior and don’t interrupt others when they’re talking. Patiently wait for your turn to speak so that you can show them how polite and respectful you are.
Staying on Your Phone
We know you love being on your phone, but if you genuinely care about making a good first impression, put it away for the next few hours. Avoid flipping through your phone constantly or holding conversations on your social media handles.
Also know, texting friends is very rude when people are trying to have an enjoyable time with you. Also it makes you come across as not caring about the people who invited you into their family circle.
Showing Photographs
Whatever you do, avoid showing your photographs especially when they are of moments when you were in other relationships. Whether it is a college photo, a video of you in a line-up dancing or having a good time in a restaurant with an ex do not show them.
Yes, you want to show them how you looked before or the video has some nice moves you want to show them remember the people you’re talking to are your future-family-in-law and they don’t have to see or hear about your past relationships.
Simply, avoid tales or photos of your past life as it may come out as comparing or bragging even if you merely want your new family to know how amazing you are as a person. Be careful as it may come out like you think their child is lucky to have you. It may be true but, keep that to yourself.
Over Drinking
Sure, the drink will loosen you up a bit, if you do drink but going hard and getting drunk will definitely end in disaster. The last thing you want to do when trying to impress your family is to be dancing inappropriately, saying something you regret or offending someone because you have become drunk and sloppy.
Even if you do not act up, the amount you drink will raise eyebrows. In the end all the other times you were being distant and polite will just go down the drain if you get drunk. So. if you feel you are tittering on the edge or are getting looks, read the room and get out of there fast.
