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Dating and relationships come with doubts, hesitations and difficult situations. In the beginning, it is mainly about whether a relationship is possible and whether you really like each other. You have lots of nice dates, talk a lot and have a great time. However, it is not all great, because dating also brings with it a lot of insecurities.
For example, how do you know if your date has the same feelings for you? And if it feels good, when is it time to move from dating to a relationship? And introducing your date to your friends and family; when is it time for that? We give you a number of tips and advice to help you on your way. This way, the step to the beginning of an “official” relationship will be less big than you might think.
From date to relationship
During the dating you get to know each other better; you go out for dinner, take walks, talk a lot and do fun activities. You are having a great time and are starting to get butterflies in your stomach, but does your date feel exactly the same? Do you know each other well enough to start a relationship or is it still way too early for that?
The transition from dating to a relationship can be a very difficult one. It’s a gray area. But before you overthink it, there are a few signs to look for. Here are the signs that will tell you it’s time to make your connection official:
- Your date wants you to meet the people around him.
- It just feels really good.
- You both know it’s more than friends with benefits .
- You do things that couples do.
- Your date wants to change their social media relationship status .
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Time to make it official
When you notice that the click is there, and you get along well, you will automatically notice that the concept of a ‘relationship’ is coming. You meet almost every day, sleep together and can no longer imagine a life without each other – at that moment. Is it time to make the relationship official? Yes…
When you have determined that the crush is mutual and it feels good, then you can choose to make it official: it is a real relationship, not a fling or something else. And when that is over… then you do have a relationship, but there is still one step to take: introducing yourself to friends, family and parents.
Introducing your date to your friends
If you are officially in a relationship, you will of course want to introduce your new lover to the most important people in your life. Your friends are probably the first to meet your new flame. It is much easier to introduce your date to your friends than to introduce him or her to your parents right away. You can therefore introduce your new boyfriend or girlfriend to your friends quite quickly and you do not have to make a big, official moment of it. When is this possible? After a few weeks.
Introducing your date to your parents (and family)
When you finally find the love of your life, you want to shout it from the rooftops. You are madly in love and want to show everyone how great this cutie is. Your dating phase is over and you have already told your parents about your new flame. The next step is to introduce him or her. But when do people introduce their new lover to their parents and family? In the fastest case, this can happen after one month, on average around three months, and sometimes this only happens after more than half a year.
ALSO READ: Couples Have More in Common Than We Think’
This is how long people wait to make proposals
Introducing your new love to your parents can be terrifying. No matter how much you like your date (or partner, really), you’re always a little nervous about what your parents think of him or her. It can be incredibly exciting, but your parents probably can’t wait to meet him or her – after they’ve learned everything about this person by now.
As a rule, most people wait to propose until the relationship is getting pretty serious. Whatever the exact reason for delaying the introduction, research shows that people often don’t feel the time is right until they’ve been in a relationship for three months. According to the research, about half of people wait three months before introducing themselves. One in three people think a month of dating is enough, and about 20 percent don’t bring their new flame to visit their family until after six months.
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1. Don’t introduce yourself until it’s official
Of course, you can introduce your date to your parents before it is official, but most people prefer to wait a little longer. Introducing your date to your parents is a very important moment and you don’t want to risk it not working out. Therefore, wait to introduce your boyfriend or girlfriend until it is official and you are pretty sure that you will stay together.
2. Prepare your parents
If you are dating someone and are falling deeply in love, you have probably already told your parents something about that person. If not, it is time to do so. Tell your parents a bit more about your new love; about hobbies, studies or work and interests. This prevents them from firing a lot of questions at your date during the first meeting. This way, they also know a bit more about the person they are going to meet and it becomes a lot more relaxed.
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3. Discuss it thoroughly with your lover
Maybe you really want to introduce your new flame to your parents, but he or she is not really looking forward to it. Maybe your date wants to take it a bit easier and wait a bit longer with this meeting. So talk about it together and agree on when you plan to do this. Don’t make it a half-obligation: it has to feel good for both of you.
4. Meet the other person’s parents too
It might be wise to discuss that you will meet each other’s parents at approximately the same time. That way, it won’t be ‘weird’ if you’ve already introduced your lover, but you still haven’t met the parents after months. For example, you could agree to go to your own parents one weekend and to the other’s the next. Of course, only do this if you both feel comfortable taking that step.
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5. Don’t make it too big
When you have decided that it is time to introduce your new love to your parents and family, it is important not to make a big deal about it. Don’t make it a big deal, but keep it light and make sure everyone feels comfortable with it. You don’t want to create an awkward situation full of expectations from all sides.
Try to be a bit more nonchalant: no pressure . This will make the meeting a lot more pleasant. Make sure the conversation runs as smoothly as possible and try to avoid cross-examination as much as possible. Stay with your date and make sure that he or she feels supported by you.
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