For many young men, introducing a girlfriend to their parents is a colossal sign that they’re ready to take things to the next level. It is also a major source of discomfort for all parties involved.
Here’s a list of what to do if your family doesn’t like your girlfriend:
Search for common ground
Instead of beating your head against the wall trying to get your family to enjoy your girlfriend's company, search for ways to ease everyone into it. Find some crossover between what your parents are interested in and what your girlfriend is interested in. It may not mean your girlfriend and your parents will get along forever, but at least it will mean having a backup dinner topic to keep things from getting silent and awkward.
Do not force it
Do not force your girlfriend and your parents to spend time together. If they don’t get along, being sensitive to that is key. If you try to force everyone to get along, they will end up resenting you for it, and by extension, they’ll end up resenting each other even more. If your parents and your girlfriend don’t get along, take a step back from the situation and try to understand why instead of trying to force them to be in the same room together.
Talk to your parents
Parents are way smarter than we give them credit for, which is why you should ask them why they hate your girlfriend. Even if you don’t like what they have to say, at least respect them enough to give them a chance to explain themselves. You may be shocked to find they have a perspective on your boo you hadn’t realized before.
Realize it does not matter
At the end of the day, it is important and healthy to realize that as much as your girlfriend may hate your parents and vice-versa, it doesn’t really matter. All that matters is if you’re happy, healthy, and feel fulfilled by both of your relationships. If your girlfriend is putting an extreme strain on your relationship with your parents, ask yourself if it is worth the trouble. If you come to the conclusion that they just don’t like the person who makes you happy for superficial reasons, take solace in the fact that it is your life, not theirs.