So, you’ve met someone and you’re in love! You hit it off very well, now he’s your boyfriend, and everything feels meant to be.
While you’re overjoyed and your stomach is fluttering with butterflies, you have no idea how to tell your parents that you have a boyfriend.
It’s not always easy to open up about your private life to your parents, especially when it comes to the romantic aspects of it.
Perhaps you’re scared they’ll disapprove, maybe you don’t want them to make a big fuss about it, or perhaps your worries that their meddling might affect the dynamics of your relationship.
Whatever the situation may be, it’s always a good idea to tell your parents that you’re seeing someone, particularly if it’s a boyfriend you’re serious about.
Even if you try to keep it a secret, they’ll eventually find out, so why not just get it out of the way now?
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What are the best ways to tell your parents you have a boyfriend?
Don’t worry if you’re a little apprehensive about telling your parents the truth. You can get the load off your shoulders in no time with these simple ideas and tactics.
1. Consider which parent will be easier to talk to
There’s usually one parent with whom you have a closer relationship or who is more forgiving and accepting than the other.
If this is your very first relationship, they could be hesitant about the prospect.
So, having one parent on your side while telling the other will be very beneficial. However, it’s still best if you notify both parents at once so that no one feels pushed out or ganged up on.
If you’re a daddy’s girl and he’s cool and supportive about everything you do, then you can grab him first and make puppy dog eyes while telling him how much you like this new boy in your life.
When he seems on board with the prospect of you dating someone then you can ask him for his help with telling your mom as well.
You could even ask your dad to inform your mom on your behalf before you approach her. This will ease the blow and help your mom not to overreact to the situation.
Having one parent by your side as you tell the other is wonderful because it means you are not dealing with the situation on your own.
2. Write them a heartfelt letter
If you’re afraid to address your parents face-to-face and inform them you have a partner, you can write all you want to say in a letter or note.
This note doesn’t have to be very long.
It should be short and sweet and should ideally mention what you admire most about your boyfriend and why you want to introduce him to your parents.
You can mail the letter to your parent’s home, tuck the message under their door, or give it to them. You are free to choose whatever option is most convenient for you.
This is an excellent way to tell your parents you have a boyfriend since you won’t have to deal with the reaction right away and they’ll have time to process before chatting to you about it.
You can also use this waiting period to calm your nerves and think about the way you are going to deal with the subject when your parents finally do start a conversation about it.
3. Drop hints
If you’re not ready to have a full-blown confession and want to test the waters instead, you can try teasing your parents about your partner by dropping hints.
Start by staying out a little later in the evenings, dressing beautifully to meet up with “friends,” keeping your door open when talking about boys with your girlfriends, or bringing up his name frequently in conversation to leave subtle hints.
Your parents will begin to wonder why you are talking about a particular boy so much and may put two and two together and figure that you are seeing someone.
When they finally question you about it, you can confirm their suspicions.
4. Introduce him as a friend first
Another great way to inform your parents that you have a boyfriend is to introduce him to them as a friend, preferably a male best friend.
As a result, you’ll be able to spend a lot more time together and your parents may even agree to let him come over to your place to hang out with you as a buddy.
Make use of this brilliant opportunity to strike up a conversation about him frequently and show your parents how comfortable you are around him.
When you feel particularly brave, you can start calling him babe in front of them.
This is a great strategy since it allows your parents to get to know him without feeling obligated to know him as your boyfriend. They’ll have already approved him by the point you admit it.
When they finally tell you how much they like your “male bestie,” you can just jump on the chance and tell them he means much more than that to you.
5. Bring your parents to your boyfriend’s game
If your partner is a sportsman, an artist, or even a musician, you can invite your parents to a function he is hosting or an event he is participating in.
This should, of course, be a fun event like a football game, a student council meeting, a science fair, or a talent show.
You can ask your parents for their opinions after watching your boyfriend showcase his talents.
You can be coy about it and ask them something like, “How do you like the football player in jersey number 11?” or something like, “This artist is cool, isn’t he? Would you like to meet him?”
If they agree with you and start talking about how cool they think your boyfriend is, you can just confess right there that he’s not just a star performer; he is also someone you love.
Great ways to tell your parents you have a boyfriend – as an adult
It’s a lot easier to inform your parents that you have a boyfriend when you’re an adult living on your own than when you’re a teenager.
First and foremost, you must be firm and unambiguous in your communication. Second, you are not requesting their approval to have a relationship.
You are merely introducing them to another important person in your life.
You must, however, remain polite when informing them and listen to their concerns and answer their questions if they have any.
1. Tag your parents in a social media post of the two of you
Posting a photo of the two of you on social media with a loving caption is a terrific way to tell your folks (and the entire world) that you have a boyfriend.
You can use many platforms to tag your parents and others, but make sure your parents use that particular platform.
If you’re feeling bold, you can even tailor the caption to talk about how excited you are about your parents finally meeting him.
When they see the post and start asking questions, you can tell them you only wanted to inform them of his existence when you felt ready to share this private aspect of your life, and you are glad that they finally know.
This is a wonderful approach since you’re informing everyone at once, and it’s a terrific way to demonstrate that you’re not seeking permission to be in a relationship.
2. Invite them all to a dinner at your place
A great way to tell your parents that you have a boyfriend is to host a little dinner party and invite both your parents and your boyfriend.
Ask your parents to arrive a little earlier and drop hints about how you will introduce them to a special friend.
Hang out with your parents and have a great time laughing and cooking dinner as you share important details of your life. Try to show them just how happy you are.
When your boyfriend arrives at the party, hug each other and exchange romantic glances and subtle touches, hinting to your parents that there is something more going on between you and your special friend.
When the time is right, let them know that he is your boyfriend – if they haven’t figured it out already.
3. Surprise them with a visit back home
A very Hollywood way of confessing you’re in love with this new person in your life is to plan a surprise visit back to your parent’s home with your boyfriend.
This strategy only works if your boyfriend is on board as well.
When you arrive, you can hug your parents and exchange the usual niceties and just casually introduce your boyfriend to them.
While they might feel a little taken aback at first, they will not, of course, turn their guests away, so this is the perfect way to mitigate tensions and avoid a long fight over it.
Telling your parents about your boyfriend can be tricky
This crucial step in your relationship can be exciting or worrisome or downright scary, and it all depends on what your relationship with your parents is like.
Are they understanding? Do they encourage independence? Then this should be a piece of cake. However, if they are anything like conventional parents, it won’t be easy to talk to them.
And let’s be honest. It’s not just the confession that can be daunting. You’re worried about what they’ll think of the person you chose as a boyfriend.
Ultimately, you’re worried about your parents not liking the fact you have a boyfriend and not liking who you chose as a boyfriend.
What to do if your parents don’t seem excited that you have a boyfriend
If your parents don’t seem excited about the idea that you have a boyfriend, it’s okay.
Understand where they are coming from, what their boundaries are, and why they feel uncomfortable about you being with someone.
You’d be shocked how many parents are genuinely impressed that you’re bringing this topic up with them.
It might be awkward at first, with your parents talking about the birds and the bees and relationships, but if they see that you’re prepared to grasp their point of view, they might be a little more accepting as time goes on.
Prepare for the worst-case scenario
Before you tell your parents about your new relationship, you should prepare yourself for anything. Because you never know how your parents may respond to the big news, it’s best to go into the talk prepared.
Being prepared means that if things don’t go your way, you’ll be able to retain your cool and calmly talk through the matter rather than getting upset or crying.
Conclusion
Relationships are really important. They’re not only a sign that you’re maturing, but they also provide you the opportunity to care about someone other than yourself.
But, if you act immature when telling your parents about your relationship, they may believe you’re too young to be involved in one.
They’ll have difficulty convincing you that you’re not grown up enough to date if you approach the topic with calmness and a level head.
So, being mature while telling your parents about your relationship is the best approach to show them you’re ready for that level of responsibility.
Show them you’re an adult, and they’ll treat you like one.
