Dating Advice: How to Win Over His Friends

So, you've found the perfect guy. You have fun together, and it is leading to something a little more serious. So much so, that Mr. Wonderful is beginning to include you in his circle of friends. Being 'the new girlfriend' can be nerve-wracking in and of itself without having to go before a panel of longtime buddies for approval. The fact remains; it will be difficult staying his girlfriend if the guys don't like you or want you around. Here are some easy and (mostly) painless tips to winning the thumbs up from the crew and even more adoration from your man.

Give Them Some Space

Whether you have moved in together or are just spending a lot of time at your boyfriend's place, make yourself scarce when the guys are around. Men need time to bond. They go into their caves, tell inappropriate jokes, play some video games like teenagers and maybe have a couple of beers. Even though it seems immature at times, so long as your boyfriend is generally responsible and kind, let them have their fun. Welcome his friends, then busy yourself with something else for a while. Your man's friends want reassurance that they haven't lost their friend and that he can still be 'one of the guys' even though he is now part of a couple.

Act Appropriately

This should be a no-brainer but you would be surprised how many women actually flirt with their boyfriend's buddies, dress or dance provocatively to gain attention, or tell dirty or rude jokes. In most cases, it is a very misguided way of being included or trying to fit in and be liked, but misfires in a big way. Sure, women like that get attention, but it is not the right kind of attention. It may sound old-fashioned, but you'll gain so much more respect from your boyfriend's pals if you handle yourself in a respectable, classy way.

Don't Talk About His Ex

One of the worst things a girlfriend can do is talk about their boyfriend's ex with his friends. Truthfully, most guys don't want to be dragged into the drama or details of how she was compared to you or what she did that you don't do and so on. If one of his friends mentions something complementary such as, "wow, you are so much more easygoing than [boyfriends' ex] was", it is perfectly okay to say thank you, or that you appreciate the compliment. However, grilling the guys on your boyfriend's former lovers or even on how he feels about you is not appropriate.

Feed Them

Again, some good old fashioned advice that holds true. Most men like to eat. They like when people feed them. An idea to break the ice with your boyfriend's friends is to invite them all over for dinner. A formal dinner party is too over the top, so consider something more casual like a cook-out. They will appreciate the effort and most likely will tell your man in private that you are a keeper.

Honor the Friendship

The most important thing to do when trying to win over your boyfriend's crew is to honor his friendships. It is easy to get caught up in spending time together and lose touch with friends when a romance is new and intense. However, letting your boyfriend know that you respect his friendships will go a long way in winning over his friends. They will take notice when they see that he can go out with them once in a while without his cell phone ringing off the hook, or they observe the fact that you are not omnipresent every time they come over. Likely, your boyfriend will sing your praises and tell them you are one that he can't let go.

The fact is, the guys want your man to be happy too, even if they don't communicate it the way you do with your girlfriends. When they see how happy he is, they won't be able to help but love you too!