Is it important to have a relationship with the women in your boyfriend's life?

[ashley001]

I'm 20, my boyfriend is 21 and we've been together for 6 months. His dad left when he was young, so he just lives with his mom and older sister. He's VERY close to them, which I'm very attracted to. The thing is that I haven't yet "connected" with them. I make small talk when I go over, ask how they are...and that's about the extent. They do invite me out to dinner with their family, but that's with the larger family and even that is very impersonal I think.

 

Now I know my boyfriend and I aren't engaged, not even close to anything like that. I just want to make a good impression. Any tips on how I can maybe be more comfortable around them or maybe breaking that wall that I feel is up now? Or do you not even think that it is important to establish this relationship with his mom and sister and just focus on my boyfriend?

[Seraphim]

If you feel he is not a forever bf then I would keep it where you are , polite. If you feel there is greater potential then I would make the effort beyond, " how are you". If you plan to have a life with someone you should make an effort to fit into the family. It makes for pretty ugly family politics later when and if you have kids if you have not made the effort now. Also if the female members of the family are important to your bf then I think the effort is worth it for that reason alone. Put it on the other shoe, would you be happy if he made the effort to get to know the people important to you? Probably so.

[PhilliesFan001]

When I was with my fiance, I made a point of trying to get close to his mother and sister-in law, as well as a couple female cousins because they were close. It felt awkward at first, but then I'd send them messages on Facebook or e-mails, I'd ask them to meet up for lunch (without him), ask them about things in their life completely unrelated to him: basically showed an interest in them as a person, not them as *his* relative, you know?