Parents are fun. Not mine of course, but yours; I find your parents rather fun. Ladies, give me five minutes on the phone with one of your parents and I will have them both convinced that you ought to date me, whether you want that or not. Give me an evening with them, and they will have planned our wedding ceremony. For whatever reason, unbeknownst to me, parents love me. Granted, I love old music and old movies and all that, so I can connect with the old folks on that level, but I think it goes deeper than that. Gentlemen, we all know that the secret to getting in good with a girl is to get in good with her father because without his consent, you're pretty much out of luck. So here's a few of my secrets. Apparently, when you first meet me, I come off as a fine, upstanding young man complete with Eagle Scout and a belt that actually holds my pants up. That's critical; you can't be looking all raggedy when you meet them. The pity card is exclusively for her; the parents only see the fine, upstanding young man card. Be pleasant at first, and slowly work your way into charming. You have to get a feel for what's accepted and what's not before you go trying to be funny and offend somebody. So just be nice before you go into your act. I have a special voice that I use to talk to parents, and even distinct ones for the father and the mother. It's lighter and clearer than usual, making me sound less like a crazy person and more like a nice guy, but there's a tone of certainty and strength that lets them know I'm not a waffle or a fruit. Wouldn't want any foodstuffs dating their daughter, would they? Take whatever political affiliation with which they side. I don't care if you disagree, just agree with them no matter what. Unless they like a man who's willing to stand up for himself and isn't just a yes-man. Either way, try not to get into politics or religion, just stick to small talk like how good your grades are and how you want to be in that profession that makes a lot of money and support their daughter. Or that profession that doesn't make much money but is honorable and respectable and their grandchildren will be named after them because you respect tradition. Be exactly as smart as they are. Nobody likes a dumbass or a pedantic know-it-all. Lastly, address them as sir and ma'am. Not because it works (because it does, quite effectively), but because it's just what's right.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
