There is no more exciting and nerve-wracking time than bringing your new beau home for the first time. Especially when that new beau portends to be “the one!”

In an effort to make this momentous occasion memorable for all the right reasons, here are some tips for bringing “him” home.

STATE YOUR FEARS

So much of what makes this first outing (if you will!) challenging are the underlying fears one might have about introducing one’s man to one’s family and vice versa. Thus, we recommend giving voice to those fears.

If your man’s humor is going to rub your father the wrong way, ask him to be aware of cracking too many jokes. Given your mom’s doll collection is freaky to everyone and embarrasses you more than a little, give your man the heads up. Don’t bias him, but do inform him.

TELL YOUR BOYFRIEND ABOUT
YOUR FAMILY DYNAMICS

From your family’s love of a musical sing-along to your tendency to get into knock-down-drag-out arguments with your sister (and quickly recovering from them), your family has a particular way of being in the world.

Tell your man all about these rituals and, more importantly, tell him where and how he should “be” when they begin to play out: applaud at the songs or go for a run when tempers flare!

TELL YOUR FAMILY ABOUT YOUR PARTNER

Now that you’ve briefed him all about your kin, tell them all about him. Tell them your fears about them all meeting (assuming you're close like this with your family) and encourage your family to be curious about your man’s interests. Remind them that there are more of them than of him and watch out for coming on too interrogatory!

PREPARE EVERYONE FOR SUCCESS

This one is easy: if your mom loves orchids, your man should send some ahead of your visit. Dad’s a whiskey man, bring a good bottle and offer a sip and a toast.

Your man is a cookie fanatic? Good, ‘cuz bro is an awesome baker. Because of being a cookie fan, your man also loves his daily run, then have your family program your visit allowing for your fella’s fitness time.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES

Speaking of programming, check out to check in. Make sure you give yourselves deliberate times and activities so that you can get away from the fray and debrief the goings on. Tell everyone what your plans are well before you cross the threshold so that no one misinterprets your third yoga class of the day as anything other than your love of a vinyasa.

ACCEPT THAT THIS IS A ‘TEST’
AND THAT IT WILL BE OK

This first meeting is a test. Period the end. And it is so because everyone is after the same goal: the best for you. But rather than thinking of this test as one to fail, think of it as an opportunity to better understand yourself, your man, and your family. This is especially easy if you go into it with the following in mind: he will still be your boyfriend and they will still be your family at the end of the visit.