"I Absolutely Hate Awkward Moments! Key Points and Topics for Talking with Each Other's Parents During Family Visits and Introductions."

2016.09.26 published

Talking to your partner's parents is nerve-wracking...!

When you go to greet your parents after your engagement, during face-to-face meetings or traditional ceremonies, at dinners, and even after getting married during New Year or Golden Week, there are many opportunities to talk with your partner's parents.

Haven't you ever found yourself at a loss for words when talking to your partner's parents? Even if you've met several times, a moment of silence can feel awkward... Plus, sometimes you may run out of conversation topics and not know what to talk about!

There are tips for conversations with your partner's parents＊

In fact, there are tips for conversations with your partner's parents. Choosing topics that leave a good impression on them and spark enjoyable conversations is very important◎ And there are also topics to avoid…! Here are some tips for selecting topics to discuss with your partner's parents, along with preferred and less favorable topics.

Use this for your greeting or face-to-face meeting! 【Preferred】 topic 1: Talking about him

Parents always cherish their children＊ Let’s ask about his childhood and how he spent his time at home♡ You can ask, “What was 〇〇 like when he was little?” with genuine interest◎ You might get to see an unexpected side of him, so it's recommended!

Use this for your greeting or face-to-face meeting! 【Preferred】 topic 2: Discussing parents' hobbies

Getting to know the parents personally can significantly shorten the distance between you. Asking “What are your hobbies?” right off the bat might seem a bit too forward, so it’s best to do some background research with him beforehand＊ You could say, “I heard that your father enjoys golf. Does he go out on the course often?” to ask a question that’s easy for them to answer.

Use this for your greeting or face-to-face meeting! 【Preferred】 topic 3: Talking about food

Food is one of the easiest topics to discuss＊ You can start from the topic of delicious cuisine and then expand the conversation to how to cook or the prices of vegetables. Talking about good restaurants in the neighborhood can also be a great topic!

Use this for your greeting or face-to-face meeting! 【Unfavorable】 topic 1: Discussing your job

It’s safer not to bring up your job unless asked＊ Each person has different views on work. If opinions on work differ significantly, it could cause concern for the parents…

Use this for your greeting or face-to-face meeting! 【Unfavorable】 topic 2: Discussing politics or religion

It's best to avoid discussions of politics or religion. Even if you belong to the same party, these are complex topics with no right answers, and if the conversation heats up, it might get out of hand…

Use this for your greeting or face-to-face meeting! 【Unfavorable】 topic 3: Speaking ill of him or discussing the couple's future

Naturally, speaking ill of him is a big no-no. Be sure to praise him in front of his parents◎ When greeting or meeting in person, avoid discussing what life will be like after marriage, and if you are already married, refrain from discussing daily life. Since he must be sharing various things with his parents, it's wise to discuss potential overlapping topics with him beforehand to avoid misunderstandings.

Topic selection is crucial for building a good relationship◎

To build a good relationship with your partner's parents, topic selection is key. You should also develop conversational skills to easily shift to other topics once one conversation ends◎

His parents are surely just wishing for his happiness. Let's be a girlfriend or wife who doesn’t make them anxious! ♡