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Maggyie

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MissScripture

[quote name='Maggie' post='1887673' date='Jun 10 2009, 09:08 AM']So with everything else going on with my family, my boyfriend has invited me to meet his ENTIRE mother's side of the family at a graduation party on Friday. We have been dating 5 months and we have told each other we love each other etc. He of course is a solid Catholic who agrees with the Church on pre-marital sex, birth control etc - overall a great catch :)

The problem is that I am really, really nervous about meeting his family... the potential for intense awkwardness is definitely there especially since I am not the best at meeting new people.

So what I'm saying here is I need someone to ship me the Magic Social Butterfly Potion ASAP. Barring that what should I do? Everyone says "be yourself" but myself is a shy girl who clams up in a crowd![/quote]
:console:
On the carride from the airport to the hosue to meet my fiance's family the first time, I was so nervous that I almost wet my pants. You have my sympathy!

If he has a large family, don't even worry about trying to remember names. They won't expect you to know them by name the first time.

My typical method of getting to know people is talking/playing with their (little) kids first, but that's just me. (I mean, I'm not creepy about it, but I'll smile at the kids and usually say something to them first, and then tell their parents something nice about the kid) Also, this method requires that there are little kids present...


[quote name='CatherineM' post='1887717' date='Jun 10 2009, 10:40 AM']What's the worst that could happen? My future mother in law tried to have me deported as a terrorist, and I survived. They are liable to be nicer than that.[/quote]
Seriously, when I start having problems with my future MIL, I just think of you and how much worse it could be. You need to start a support group or something for people with scary MILs.

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TotusTuusMaria

[quote name='Maggie' post='1887673' date='Jun 10 2009, 09:08 AM']So with everything else going on with my family, my boyfriend has invited me to meet his ENTIRE mother's side of the family at a graduation party on Friday. We have been dating 5 months and we have told each other we love each other etc. He of course is a solid Catholic who agrees with the Church on pre-marital sex, birth control etc - overall a great catch :)

The problem is that I am really, really nervous about meeting his family... the potential for intense awkwardness is definitely there especially since I am not the best at meeting new people.

So what I'm saying here is I need someone to ship me the Magic Social Butterfly Potion ASAP. Barring that what should I do? Everyone says "be yourself" but myself is a shy girl who clams up in a crowd![/quote]

You'll be great. Don't worry about it. Say a prayer. Once you meet them, I am sure all of them will be super nice and you'll calm down. You'll see. You'll be great! [b]Be yourself![/b]

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[quote name='Maggie' post='1887754' date='Jun 10 2009, 11:27 AM']The worst that could happen? Kill me and eat me for BBQ? Hate me? This does make me feel better... at worst there will just be painful awkward silence or they will just talk to each other about people they know that I don't know and I'll just kind of stand there looking like, d'ohhhhhh.[/quote]


They can kill you, but they can't eat you. That's against the law.

I kind of lucked out with a nasty MIL. I've never had to actually be in the same room with her.

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cassandragirl

[quote name='Maggie' post='1887673' date='Jun 10 2009, 08:08 AM']So with everything else going on with my family, my boyfriend has invited me to meet his ENTIRE mother's side of the family at a graduation party on Friday. We have been dating 5 months and we have told each other we love each other etc. He of course is a solid Catholic who agrees with the Church on pre-marital sex, birth control etc - overall a great catch :)

The problem is that I am really, really nervous about meeting his family... the potential for intense awkwardness is definitely there especially since I am not the best at meeting new people.

So what I'm saying here is I need someone to ship me the Magic Social Butterfly Potion ASAP. Barring that what should I do? Everyone says "be yourself" but myself is a shy girl who clams up in a crowd![/quote]

Ask your boyfriend what some of the interests of his family members are and then you can flip the conversation after introductions to say' oh it is so nice to meet you X - I understand you really like (interest 1) or you went on a trip recently toX - I would love to hear more about that. Then you can follow them to whereever and just sit and listen, nod your head and say 'cool' tell me more alot.

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piano_freak184

get drunk before hand so if you mess up you won't be embarassed and you won't remember.

kidding. you'll do fine, just be yourself!

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[quote name='Maggie' post='1887673' date='Jun 10 2009, 09:08 AM']So with everything else going on with my family, my boyfriend has invited me to meet his ENTIRE mother's side of the family at a graduation party on Friday. We have been dating 5 months and we have told each other we love each other etc. He of course is a solid Catholic who agrees with the Church on pre-marital sex, birth control etc - overall a great catch :)

The problem is that I am really, really nervous about meeting his family... the potential for intense awkwardness is definitely there especially since I am not the best at meeting new people.

So what I'm saying here is I need someone to ship me the Magic Social Butterfly Potion ASAP. Barring that what should I do? Everyone says "be yourself" but myself is a shy girl who clams up in a crowd![/quote]


Make them laugh and be relaxed. It's just sort of an intuition you have to figure out. BUt to play it safe pay attention to body language and voice tone. Be respectful and even deferential at first, make eye contact and smile, but don't look smugg or cocky. Let them "lead" so to say. Talk about what they like as much as you can. Don't lie, if you don't know something admit it, but show a willingness to adapt to their mores.

Take a shot of whiskey :mellow:


I

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[quote name='Old_Joe' post='1888196' date='Jun 11 2009, 12:02 AM']Dress up like a giant clam. That way everyone will know how you feel.[/quote]


that could certainly be an icebreaker...

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If all else fails fake a seizure.
That's the fastest way to attract attention.
You'll being making conversation in no time.
Best ice breaker yet.

Edited by musturde
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[quote name='the lords sheep' post='1888374' date='Jun 11 2009, 07:34 AM']Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry.

It worked for Padre Pio....[/quote]

But Padre Pio could also read souls and bilocate.
Prayer will work... but she needs more than that.
Mary knew the party at Qana was getting boring/awkward. That's why she commissioned Jesus to do something about it.
I'm telling you, God made alcohol for a good reason.

Edited by musturde
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[quote name='musturde' post='1888471' date='Jun 11 2009, 11:53 AM']But Padre Pio could also read souls and bilocate.
Prayer will work... but she needs more than that.
Mary knew the party at Qana was getting boring/awkward. That's why she commissioned Jesus to do something about it.
I'm telling you, God made alcohol for a good reason.[/quote]

Awesome :cool:

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It went fine! I did not in fact die! I thought my guy's mother was a little stand-offish but nothing rude or anything. I had a great time talking with his hilarious younger brother and his awesome grandpa (with whom I talked about the merits of Augustine vs. Aquinas). He didn't leave me once the entire time and I really had nothing to be worried about!

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