<p>high school.</p>
<p>
DS likely could pass this one, I think. At one time, his GF and he cooked something at the small kitchen at their dorm. DS sent a picture of what they cooked to us. There were at least one dish which seems to have been cooked by him.</p>
<p>I am a little bit concerned about proper “table manners” at a formal restaurant, though. Hopefully, he has picked up these from his suitemates in the past. (After all, one of the stuff he should have learned at his college is supposedly this!)</p>
<p>I heard that recently DS was invited to a somewhat formal dinner with one of her family members (a brother who is almost 10 years older than her.) Do not know how it went. But we have the feeling, after looking at some pictures they sent to us, that they are happy when they are together. Wonder whether/when they will have their first “argument” if any?</p>
<p>OP, I think it may be good to ask your GF about her mother. Who else would know better about her mom?</p>
<p>"I would personally skip the hostess gift, but you might want to ask if that’s the local custom. As the receiving parents, we would think of it as “too much, too soon.”</p>
<p>I’d ask the GF what she thought about you bringing some flowers or something for her mom. Regardless of the local custom her mom might like it. DS’s GF brought me flowers the first time we met and they hadn’t been dating very long. It definitely impressed me. </p>
<p>^ Ouch, we have never taught DS to buy flowers for anybody. One of our concerns is that he may be regarded as not romantic enough in HIS generation. But we can not teach him what we do not do.</p>
<p>For his GF’s family, being respectful may go a long way. But I do not know whether he knows about this. (But he is generally a polite person. However, the standard of politeness may be higher in this context.)</p>
<p>My parents always made positive comments about friends that they thought were pleasant, polite and well mannered.
More as a thinly veiled threat that I should be minding my p’s and q’s when a guest in someone’s home.</p>
<p>My girls are very good at coaching their BFs. D2 like to tell her BF not to be fooled by my friendliness and not to let his guard down, my friendly chit chat is a way of getting information out him.</p>
<p>^ Yikes. DS just recently went with his GF and visited her parents for 4 days at their house. All I told him was to be polite and not talk about politics,religion or money…although I’m not sure what information they would be able to get out of him since he’s 19.</p>
<p>Does he party excessively? Is he a good student? What his family is like - is he an only child, helicopter parents, controlling mom (potential MIL from hell), major family illness which could be passed on to my grandchildren…You know, all the good stuff.</p>
<p>OP - don’t get scared. I am just kidding here.</p>
<p>Oh, and write a thank-you note!!!</p>
<p>Goodness! He’s just meeting the mother of his girlfriend of 1 month standing – he’s not asking for her hand in marriage. </p>
<p>
</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Soitenly!</p></li>
<li><p>1.0 scholar! Am on track to graduating at the very bottom of my graduating HS class! (<em>Said in a perky excessively upbeat mood</em>)</p></li>
<li><p>Who knows? </p></li>
<li><p>They did fly whirlybirds for the Army/Navy/Air Force. Does that count?</p></li>
<li><p>She’s much better at controlling Dad and my older siblings than me. She always said unlike them, I’m the “incorrigible one”. (<em>Said in a tone betraying pride in that quality</em>)</p></li>
<li><p>I think one grandmother said our family has had bouts of something called hemo-somethingamajig. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>:D 
:D</p>
<p>The very fact that the OP is asking bodes well.</p>
<p>um…personally I think some of these are over the top if you are just stopping by for a few minutes to introduce yourself. If that’s the situation, flowers or a hostess gift or a thank you note strike me as a bit much. If you’re going for dinner, that’s different.</p>
<p>I would not say “Mrs.” unless you know for sure she uses that title. Ask your girlfriend. Not everyone uses that title–especially if a woman uses her own surname and/or is divorced. </p>
<p>You are a HS senior meeting the mom of a gf of one month. OK-- bottom line. Smile, make eye contact, have a firm handshake, call her "Mrs X XXX " , don’t sit until after she does and stand when she stands. And don’t pick your nose.</p>
<p>Just thought of this: When DS was about OP’s age, more often than not, their dating place was at girl’s home, always supervised by her family members (most likely one of her parents.) It was an intensive “boot camp” which should have trained him well about how to behave in front of GF’s parents 
I think they could meet each other either at school or at girl’s home or in the neighborhood near her home, and nowhere else.</p>
<p>I agree with jonri regarding a simple introduction vs dinner.</p>
<p>Info seems to be evolving. Recommendations would differ if you were simply meeting her at the door when you pick up your date vs going over for dinner. But that said, don’t call her by her first name. Use Ms or Mrs or Dr or whatever is appropriate.</p>
<p>Just be polite, shake her hand, call her “Mrs. Smith.” Do not touch her daughter. .</p>
<p>If you are taking her D out, make sure you are back at least 5 minutes before curfew.</p>
<p>I assumed this was for dinner or something because it seemed the parents wanted to check this guy out. But if you’re just meeting her at the door, then, yeah, don’t stink, shake hands and make eye contact.</p>
<p>Ds1 brought home three co-workers – 22yo girls who are roomies. They sent me a group thank-you note for the big dinner and dessert, and I was IMPRESSED. No parents around to remind them to do so. It was thoughtful, funny, well-written. I think when a young person shows manners – including not assuming you can call me by my first name – it speaks volumes.</p>
<p>OP, it also never hurts to make positive comments about your own family and your positive relationship with your parents. </p>
<p>Expect that her parents may use the occasion to set down some ground rules–rules re: driving, curfew etc.</p>
<p>When my oldest son was dating in high school, we had a rule that he always had to have his charged-up cell phone with him when he was in any car, although it was not to be out when he was driving. His girl friend’s family was very strict as far as curfew, etc., even though they liked him. One night when they were out he got confused on the highway and got lost. (this was in the days before Google Maps). He got off the highway–and lucky he had his phone–called us for directions. He also called his girlfriend’s family to say they would be late because he had taken the wrong exit. We called her family as well, and were happy to learn he had already called.When they got to her house, he went in to apologize in person for being past curfew. His maturity confirmed their good opinion of him.</p>