AM Rule Refresher: Integrate Into Each Other’s Lives - AskMen

AM Rule Refresher: Integrate Into Each Other’s Lives

No aspect of a new relationship is more complicated than learning to integrate into each other's lives — meaning your love lives and your social lives. Meeting each other's friends is one of the trickiest hoops a new couple has to jump through. One hopes that everybody will like one another, and everybody gets along, but, of course, it’s not always that easy. Sometimes friends — yours and hers — can make dating extra difficult. By criticizing, interfering and excluding, they can make it clear that they’re not happy about your relationship. They might even do everything in their power to stop your budding romance before it starts. In such cases, the two of you could say “screw you” to your respective social circles, but that really isn’t sustainable.

Like it or lump it, you need to learn how to integrate into each other's lives. So, in the interest of helping you deal with problem-causing friends, we’ve combed the pages of The Guy’s Guide to Romance to put together this AM Rule Refresher. Take a look and you’ll be well on your way to navigating all sorts of unfriendly social situations.

Her hateful girlfriend

It’s not uncommon for you to take a little heat from her girlfriends when you first integrate into each other's lives. So don’t be surprised if your girlfriend’s gal pals seem a bit protective or even territorial when you first meet them. Once you show them that you’re not a creep, they should back off.

However, you’ll occasionally run into the hateful girlfriend, that friend who just seems to hate your guts for no reason. That kind of friend can make it very difficult for you and your girlfriend to integrate into each other’s lives. The best way to deal with her hateful girlfriend is to kill her with kindness. When she’s around, be on your best behavior. Be extra nice and affectionate toward your girlfriend. Show her hateful girlfriend how chivalrous and respectful you are. In the face of your unflinching courtesy her opinions will have to change.

Her gang of guy friends

As you integrate into each other’s lives, your girlfriend will have to get used to spending the occasional Saturday with an unfamiliar group of shouting, binge-drinking, slightly odorous (but admittedly hilarious) men, otherwise known as “your friends.” And in some cases, you’re going to have to do the same thing.

You’ll have to deal with other men if you want to integrate into each other’s lives…