SingleGirl: Meeting the Parents
Posted by SingleGirl - 29/03/10 at 08:03 am
I’m not really sure when is the appropriate time to “meet the parents” if you will. Mixing Significant Others and families is sort of like making soufflé. Sometimes, that sh*t just doesn’t rise, you know? Or sometimes, it can be completely awesome. But it can go either way, in my opinion.
Regardless, a lot is dependent on timing. I mean, meeting the parents says: “this is someone who is probably going to be in my life for a bit…or FOREVER” And also, it says “here are my embarrassing memories of when I was young embodied in whatever my parents are telling you that might make you want to run away.” So, implicit/explicit messages are being sent left and right. Scary times!
Unsurprisingly, I fall into the “I’d like to keep my parents in the dark until the actual wedding day” camp, so I’m never quick off the mark to introduce my family. I’m also never excited to meet other people’s families. I am not a fan of the stress, of the challenge of trying to be presentable, interesting, sober…freshly showered….etc. I’d rather be lying down! (Yes, I am that lazy).
So anyway, Tall Drink had a work event that was a big deal, and his entire family came into town at once. Parents, sister, nieces etc. And so, I met them in one big fell swoop. Which, as he pointed out, I owed him because he ended up meeting a lot of my friends all at once. But still, as I then pointed out, we were BEYOND even because that is a lot of family all at one time!
He said (following the correct man playbook) that I was a big hit with everyone, and I said (again) ok, we are even buddy! So now that begs the question of when should I introduce him to my parents? His met me on the early side because of outside things (work event). Mine however, are more local and easily accessible so they can be locked and loaded for firing at any time. What do I do? And when do I do it? Tall Drink (again, calling the right plays) has said he will meet my parents at anytime that I am comfortable. But is there some sort of rule of thumb I should be following? Some sort of Rules of Etiquette Book that I should consult? Am I making too big a deal out of this? When should it all happen????!!!!! Ummm…. please help?
