How to Make a Good Impression on Your Girlfriend's Kids

One plus one equals two, right? Not in today's dating world. Sometimes when you find the right girl and she takes you home, it's not to meet her parents but her children. How you approach the most important people in her life can mean the difference between continuing your relationship and never seeing her again.

With your future in mind here are some tips for getting along with her children from the very beginning.

Make a good first impression.
Ask your girlfriend questions about the children, what is their favorite band, color, sports team, or book. Be prepared to talk to them about the things they like by looking them up on the internet or asking your friends' kids to explain things to you.

Make the first meeting brief.
Basically you want to introduce yourself, be polite and leave them alone with their thoughts about you. Kids take a while to get used to someone new, take it slow.

Allow them to hang around while you are there.
Nothing will make an enemy out of a child than faster than banishment. Put on a TV show you know they like, or a CD of music that makes them comfortable and be yourself in their company! Kids trust people who show their real selves and they can spot a phony a mile away!

Don't bring them gifts right away...
...unless the gift is very inexpensive and practical like ice cream or a board game (which you will, of course, offer to play with them at another time.) Gifts can come later but when you bring them immediately it seems as if you are trying to buy their loyalty. It never works.

Don't disparage their father or confront him in any way in their presence...
...even if he is a very bad man. Children have an attachment to both parents and attacking their father is tantamount to attacking them on a base level. If a situation arises in which it's you versus him, walk away.

Use their names.
Kids like to hear their own name. Recognizing them every time with a smile and a handshake and their names means respect to a child and they will give respect in return.

Don't condescend.
Using words like "Sweetie" and "Honey" and acting as if they are incapable of understanding the most basic concepts is one way to send a kid to the enemy lines very quickly. Give a kid credit and he will earn it very quickly.

Treat their mother with the utmost respect.
She is bringing you into the situation and entrusting you with the people who are most important to her. If you show her respect you will get it in return from her children.

In the dating world today entering a relationship with a mother is almost as likely as not so it pays to be prepared.