My fiance's parents are very traditional- the husband is the man/dictator of the house, you buy one house and live their your whole life, divorce is never an option, and they are very strict and conservative (but two of the sweetest people I know, too). My parents, on the other hand, are divorced and hippies! My brother is gay and I'm not sure how they'll take that either! It reminds me of how the parents clash on Dharma and Greg (if you've seen it, you know what I mean)... except my hippie parents are quite THAT extreme. What can I do to make this all go smoothly? My fiance and I know that because we accept eachother's families whole heartedly- that's really the most important thing. I just want our parents to get along too!
2007-02-21 02:02:46 · 9 answers · asked by KarmaBaby 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
It will be fine. Remember, that your parents will most likely not be friends. They don't need to be. They just need to be friendly.
2007-02-21 02:07:54 · answer #1 · answered by Pink Denial 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
definetly pick a neutral place to meet like a restauraunt or something, people seem to get territorial when threatened and others feel more tense when they are in someone else's territory!
both of you need to warn your parents to behave and give them a little bit of an idea what the other set of parents is like so they can be prepared.
worst case senario, they hate each other, but guess what it doesn't matter! They only have to see each other at the wedding and the births of your children and maybe a school function or 2....my grandparents from either side can't stand each other, I have 1 set that are the most prim and proper southern baptists you can find, and another set where the grandfather is ok, but grandmother is a total perv and is always making dirty jokes and all, we just have 2 christmases and swap up the other holidays so they seldom have to interact, and when they do, they are at least grown up enough to behave in public, which is where we like to keep their encounters!--it can be handled!
and who knows, they may find each other fabulous and become buddies!?
2007-02-21 02:41:49 · answer #2 · answered by ASH 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I completely understand...my parents and my fiance's parents are polar opposites. They probably wouldn't be friends other than the fact that him & I are together.
But they've met....we brought them to a restaurant that had more than just food and lovely conversation (b/c the conversation would have turned sour!). It was a Mexican restaurant that had music, good entertainment and drinks for the few that drink. Anyway, we tried to keep the atmosphere as positive as possible...and it worked!
Don't worry too much about how they will like each other....they will grow on each other (especially if you two grow well together). Both parents have ONE concern...."will this family and their child take care of MY child?" Good luck!
2007-02-21 02:12:22 · answer #3 · answered by bubbadoy 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would suck if they didn't get along for some reason, but maybe you and/or your fiance could prepare his parents for how your parents might be so that they aren't shocked and they don't act all weird when they meet them. I think if they are prepared up front it might not be bad. Its best to get them to meet soon so they can get to know each other also.
When I married my ex husband, our parents didn't meet until after we decided to get married. We had a three week engagement...you can guess how that went.
I'm sure it will all be just fine. Make sure you all steer clear of topics like religion and politics and they might all be just fine.
Good luck.
2007-02-21 03:03:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh my. make sure that there is plenty of liquour on hand and that you set a relaxed ambiance. Set the meeting at a public or neautral palce, so it won't be anybody's territory.
Secondly, make both sets of the family aware that they will be NO politics or religion conversation allowed, so you avoid unnecesary arguments.
If they are from opposite sport teams (i.e, yankees vs. red socks) make sure they don't argue about it.
Select neutral topics of conversation, so you can change the subject in case of an emergency.
Investigate and see if the have something in common, so you can talk about that.
Good luck
2007-02-21 02:12:44 · answer #5 · answered by Blunt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Congrats first of all. :) I'm sure everyone will be on there best behavior. Keep a sense of humor about the evening. I saw that episode of Dharma and Greg, when their parents meet. Very funny. You know in life you are what you are and life is too short to be difficult. You said his parents are very sweet. I'm sure everything will be fine...just remember sense of humor.
2007-02-21 02:19:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If parents don't get along it can put stress on your relationship. However, you basically answered your own question when you said that your fiance and you know that because YOU accept each other's families that is all that matters.
You cannot MAKE people get along! All you can do is ask each side to keep their difference in opinion to themselves at family functions so that they don't ruin the event.
Good luck!
2007-02-21 02:09:45 · answer #7 · answered by startwinkle05 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yikes! Sounds interesting.. Don't worry about it at all - they will have more in common than you know!
However, I'm more concerned that the parents have not met yet - that would be unusual in our family and amongst our circle of friends. They would have met when a couple is dating.
2007-02-21 08:39:41 · answer #8 · answered by Lydia 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look up Bodie(sp?) Dharma. I believe he started Buddhism. That should give you a bit of insight.
2016-05-24 02:04:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋