Few Things to Remember When Meeting the Fam

Meeting the Family. Yeah, that's up there on the list of things a lot of people are deathly afraid of. In terms of relations with males, I don't let a lot people meet my family because your family are not like your friends. They introduce a more serious level in your relationships. They form ideas about your relations and if you establish enough of a connection, they become attached. It's come to my attention that a lot of people don't understand the importance of parents, grandparents or siblings' perspectives. The foundation of an individual is their family and it affects relationships or even friendships if you don't get family approval. The fear of scrutiny is what limits people sometimes from getting on the good side of a family or avoiding them altogether which isn't any better. These are a few things to keep in mind if you are meeting the fam for the first time.

1. Do some research: You need to get background information on the family. Knowing their nationality, beliefs, dislikes, likes, and even how they've interacted with other people gives you the boost on how to approach them or what to expect in terms of their attitude and perspective ahead of time.

2. Make a good first impression: Make sure your appearance is in tact. Next, don't just say "hi" and keep it moving. Parents forget names really quickly so you need to make your presence memorable. Try to get a conversation going so that you have the opportunity to share more about yourself and make family members comfortable. If you heard that something recently happened with them, bring it up.

3. Establish and maintain connections: Find something that you have in common with a family member and you're in a good position. It's important to maintain the good vibes afterwards by always greeting them when you see them, attending family functions or even doing something as small but meaningful as sending a holiday card. These things say a lot about your character.

In the case that you meet the family in a bad situation, here are alternate solutions of repairing the damage.

- Okay so you've met the family while doing the nasty.
Nothing can be done to change that impression. It's better to apologize and take responsibility for your actions. You may feel like never returning again, but it's best to leave more good impressions than bad.

-So you and your mate have had your share of arguments or hurtful statements and the family knows all about it.
You don't have a very good reputation so it's important to show the relatives that you and the person who introduced you can maintain healthy relations. Have great manners and if the family confronts you about certain issues, express your remorse and your plans to limit tension and unnecessary behavior in the future.