Meet the parents – a guide for girls.

There's a great moment in the hit movie Twilight that sums up how nerve-racking it can be to meet your new boyfriend's mom and dad. In the film – which a teenage love story between a pretty high school girl called Bella and a sexy vampire called Edward – the girl starts worrying about meeting his parents. Edward laughs at her, commenting that she's more worried about making a good impression on his foster parents, who are also vampires, than the fact that his family may actually want to – quite literally – get their fangs in her. So, assuming your boyfriend's mom and dad aren’t vampires, werewolves or cyborgs, what's the best approach?

Here are some general tips:

* Find out some basic information about his mom and dad, like their interests and hobbies – it could help get the conversation going. Your boyfriend's values may not necessarily be reflected in his mom and dad – so try to find out if they're traditional, conservative folks or aging hippies, or laid-back 'anything goes' type of people. If you have an idea what to expect, it will ease those inevitable nerves.

* First impressions matter so be open and friendly. Smile and shake hands with them.

* On the subject of first impressions, what you wear does matter – keep it conservative without sacrificing who you are (we shouldn’t have to say it, but just in case….keep the cleavage under control!)

* Keep the conversation safe and neutral. Don’t criticize your boyfriend in front of his family, and avoid talking about politics and religion.

* Meet on neutral ground – it may be easier to all go out for dinner than to meet in his family home. Perhaps going to the theatre or a concert could work – it will give you all something to talk about afterwards.

* Are you prepared to both lie to his parents about how you met - if need be. Did you meet your guy on the dance floor of a night club that his parents forbid he visits? Or did you meet on one of the dating websites and feel a little embarrassed to be looking online for love - get your stories straight.

* You could have won the Nobel Peace Prize and be working on a cure for cancer, but chances are that you're STILL not good enough for this mother's son – if you encounter a mom like that, don’t take it personally, keep your gracious good manners and maintain a positive and polite front.

* Be confident and be yourself. The more natural you are, the more likely it is that his mom and dad will see in you the very qualities that your boyfriend sees in you.

* Meeting mom and dad is an indisputable sign that the relationship is getting serious. Remember that you wouldn’t be here at his parents' doorstep if he didn’t want you to be.

* Acknowledge that his mom and dad are probably just as nervous about meeting YOU as you are about meeting them! If you realize this, it can make the way smoother for both of you.