9 Ways to Make a Good First Impression on the Parents

In a perfect world, it would not be hard to make a good impression on your significant other's parents. The parents would meet you, see how much you care about their adult child, and they would then welcome you with open arms into the family. Unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world and parents can hate you for any number of seemingly insignificant reasons. First impressions can either help or doom your relationship with a potential significant other and that's why it is so important to make a good impression on your significant other's parents from the beginning. I have put together a guide with nine tips to help you make a good first impression on your significant other's parents.

How to Make a Good Impression on the Parents, Tip #1: Try to Learn Something About the Parents Before Meeting Them.

Ask your significant other to tell you about his/her parents. What are their likes and dislikes? Look through photo albums and/or watch videos of your significant other's family gatherings to get a feel for the parents. If you notice anything negative about the parents, do NOT mention it to your significant other. No one wants to hear negative comments about their family and especially not their parents. Getting to know the parents before the visit is similar to studying for an examination at school where the grade is pass or fail.

You can also probably expect to be asked about your job and any future goals you may have. Parents want to be able to tell if you will live off their offspring's earnings or help to support them financially.

How to Make a Good Impression on the Parents, Tip #2: Dress Neatly and in Clean Clothing.

It may not be fair but how you dress will set the tone of your entire first meeting with your significant other's parents. You will need to dress appropriately for the occasion. Unless it is a formal occasion that requires rented clothing, you can plan to wear clean and tidy clothing that has no holes, rips or tears. I am aware that certain fashion trends favor faded, ripped clothing or even all black but meeting the parents for the first time is not the time to express your individuality. When you are meeting the parents for the first time and even the second or third times, it is in your best interest to present yourself in a clean and tidy manner.

How to Make a Good Impression on the Parents, Tip #3: Have Clean and Plainly-Styled Hair

I know, how boring is it that I mention clothing first and now hair? I can't reiterate it enough though, when you are meeting the parents for the first time, it is not the time to express your individuality through creative hairstyles. Make sure you have clean hair that is tidy and well-kept. If you have a mustache or beard, make sure they are tidy and clean as well.

How to Make a Good Impression on the Parents, Tip #4: Cover Extreme Tattoos and Remove Extreme Piercings

If you have multiple tattoos, perhaps tatt sleeves, then wear a long sleeved shirt to cover them. Parents worry about their children, even adult children, and seeing their children with a heavily tattooed partner may be more than some parents can handle. If you want the parents to see you as a person first, instead of just seeing your tattoos, cover them in the beginning. It's the same for any extreme piercings you may have.

How to Make a Good Impression on the Parents, Tip #5: Use Clean Language

Upon meeting the parents for the first time, be polite and respectful. If you use obscenities for every other word you utter, please don't do so in front of the parents. This is also the time to speak kindly to your significant other. If you are having a disagreement with your significant other, it is not the time to bring it up in front of the parents. How you talk to and treat your significant other will go a long way in making the parents think well of you.

How to Make a Good Impression on the Parents, Tip #6: Avoid Hot Topics of Discussion

If you are a rapid fan of any particular sport, sports team or political party, this isn't the time to argue your beliefs. I'm not suggesting that you lie about your beliefs but it does not give a good impression when you give strong opinions that are radically different from the beliefs of the parents. It is possible to explain your beliefs in a mild and non-threatening manner. Again, this is not the time to express your individuality.

The first meeting of the parents is also not the best time to talk about any future offspring, if any, that you and your significant other may plan to have together.

How to Make a Good Impression on the Parents, Tip #7: Be on Time

When you are meeting the parents for the first time, be on time. It will make a much better impression on the parents if you do not leave them waiting for you to arrive. I believe a gift is optional. Unless your significant other lets you know that there is a particular wine, candy, flower or even a ticket to a show that the parents will enjoy, don't try to guess what gift to take. If you arrive with a bottle of wine to a non-drinking family, the impression you leave will not be positive.

How to Make a Good Impression on the Parents, Tip #8: Use Good Table Manners

Good manners are always important but they are especially important when you are eating a meal with the parents. I am not referring to whether or not you use the proper fork with the correct course. Instead, I am referring to whether you chew your food with your mouth open or if you reach in front of people to grab the salt shaker. Use good table manners where you eat your food as a civilized human being which will make a far better impression on the parents than talking with your mouth full of food will.

How to Make a Good Impression on the Parents, Tip #9: NEVER Speak Negatively About the Parents

Once you've met the parents, never say anything negative about them. Perhaps they are negative and unlikable people but if you want a long-term relationship with your significant other, you will never say it out loud. This might be the time to think about how any future children you may have together will be affected by the parents.

If you plan on having a long-term relationship with your significant other, then you need to plan to make the best possible impression immediately. I am a parent and I have met several different significant others through the years that my daughter has brought home to meet me and while I try to keep an open mind, it is difficult. I would like to say that I have been able to accept them into the family with open arms but I have had to work very hard at it. While it wasn't necessarily just the tattoos, the hair or the lack of a job that gave me problems, they didn't make it any easier to accept that they were good enough for my only child.

If you want to make a good impression on the parents from the very beginning, follow the tips I have a listed here to get you started. You can certainly add to or take away any of them but in the beginning, that first impression is the most important impression you will ever make. As the parents get to know you better, AFTER the first impression, you can let them see the "real" you little by little. It will be easier for the parents and ultimately on you and your relationship with your significant other to make that good first impression.