You know how terrible it is trying to explain technology to your parents? Now imagine instead of an iPhone, it’s your partner, and instead of an app, it’s explaining that you two are keeping things casual.Yeah, it’s going to be awkward.
But the holidays are coming up, and if you’re planning to bring your boo home, here’s the best way to explain to your parents that you’re not putting a label on things.
- No Surprises. Give them time to adjust to fact there is someone in your life, before explaining the nature of your relationship" says public health pro Janielle Bryan. If you’re just bringing your bae home to Thanksgiving without a warning?You’re setting yourself up for failure.Talk about them with your parents when your making travel plans, include them in facetimes, do whatever to normalize the situation.
- Neutral Ground.Don’t have your first meeting at your parents’ home if you can help it. Experts say these tends to make people feel trapped. Try to meet up in a park or grab some lunch with your parents and get the “how’d you meet” type questions out of the way there.
- Howdy Partner.While you’re not putting labels on things, it might help to use some terms your parents will understand. “Partner” is a gender-neutral term that lets your parents know there’s a relationship between you,it’s just not one they’re used too.
- Don’t Take The Backlash Personal."At the core of all those invasive questions and apprehensive looks, parents want to know their child is being loved and not being taken advantage of," says Bryan. You’re their perfect little angel and they want to know you’re being taken care of.If they didn’t give you any push back wouldn’t you be a little disappointed?
Source:EliteDaily