Impress her family:
7 dos and don'ts to make her family like you
By Margot Carmichael Lester

Going home for the holidays can be stressful enough. But going to her home to meet her parents? Yikes! Can you manage to steer clear of taboo topics? Can you avoid offending anyone? Will her family dig you?

"My first holiday dinner with my new girlfriend was a doozie," recalls C.D., 45, of Denver. "It was a formal affair, and she wore a strapless dress with cleavage moderately exposed. At dinner, her knife slipped from her hand and fell to the floor. We both leaned down to retrieve the fork, as one of her breasts popped out of her gown. To redirect her family's attention, I immediately stood up and said, 'Look at the magnificent view.' As the family turned, I noticed there were two dogs engaged in carnal activities in the yard. Oops. You could hear the whip cream collapsing on the pie it was so quiet."

After gathering herself together, C.D.'s girlfriend explained C.D.'s attempt to preserve her dignity. "The family began roar with laughter. Needless to say, the tension was broken, I was exonerated by the family, and from that moment I realized that I should really look before I speak, especially in the yard."

We asked other brave souls — and the women and families who love them — for dos and don'ts to help you win her family over. Here's what they had to say:

1. Be yourself
"If you try to put on some kind of act, you'll come off as forced and uncomfortable," notes John, 38, of Raleigh, N.C. "Dress like you are going on a date to a conservative place and just enjoy yourself. In the past I have gotten to be such good friends with my date's parents that I would continue to talk to them after I stopped seeing their daughter. Sometimes way after."

2. Gush over children and pets
If you don't like animals, feign an allergy. If you don't like kids, suck it up for a few days. "People love people who love their pets and children," says Jen, 32, of San Diego. "If you don't, it could spell trouble with a family like mine that's full of dogs and grandchildren."

3. Male bonding
People love to talk about themselves and rarely does anyone listen. Plus, you might pick up some good information on your sweetie. "I like to spend lots of time with the dad or brothers," says Sean, 30, of Eagle Rock, Calif. "But I don't say too much to him because dads like guys who listen."

4. Mind your manners
A little courtesy goes a long way. "I was so impressed by the way Teresa behaved when we first met her," says Sue's mom, Miriam, of Indianapolis. "She arrived exactly on time, brought a pie even though we told her she didn't need to and helped with the clean-up after dinner. She's a keeper!"

5. Use your mojo
Women love flattery — even moms. If mom likes you, you are in forever. "Moms like attention from their daughters' boyfriends," notes Zeff, 40, of Chicago. "But flirty lightly; if you lay it on too thick, it'll bring you nothing but woe!"

6. Be philosophical
You can't please all of the people all of the time, so focus on being the best you possible. "I may have been class president, but I know not everyone likes me," says Anne, 28, of Atlanta. "Not having that unrealistic expectation keeps the stress level way down. And the more relaxed I am, the better I perform."

7. Practice moderation
"Limit yourself to two drinks total — no one wants to be remembered as so- and-so's drunk date," counsels David, 40, of Washington, D.C. "This will also help you avoid discussing sensitive subjects or getting wooed into dicey situations that can lead to disagreements."

Source: http://www.match.com