A Do or a Don't: Dating a Family Friend

March 18, 2009

Getting romantically involved with a friend can be tricky, but dating a family friend can be even more complicated. Yes, if things work out it would have been well worth the risk, but if they don't, things could get incredibly awkward for everyone involved — you can't really avoid those close to your family!

I know you can't really help who you fall for, but tell me, is getting involved with a family friend a do or a don't?

Source

18 Comments

thelorax 4 years 8 weeks

In almost every case, it's a don't. If things don't work out and it ends badly, things will not only be awkward between the two of you, but your whole social/family circle!!! Either your whole family has to break up with his whole family, or you live with the awkwardness into perpetuity. Been there, done that...oh, and I married someone who dated EVERY SINGLE ONE of his little sister's friends. And now they won't go away. Ew.

Deidre 4 years 8 weeks

A don't. Too much outside pressure from family and friends (whether you stayed together or broke up!).

designerel 4 years 8 weeks

If the friend is about your parents' age, I think that's mildly creepy but that's just me. To each his own. As for sons of family friends, I don't think it would be such a horrible thing-- as long as you agree things won't be weird after the breakup, or make every best attempt not to have things get weird-- that would make for very awkward gatherings between your families in the future!

aimeeb 4 years 8 weeks

Ummm I'd say maybe it would depend on the situation on how he is a family friend. I've dated a friend or two of my older brother and same on his end with my friends and it always ends up a mess.

bengalspice 4 years 8 weeks

I dated a guy from the Bengali community that my parents started to socialize with. It makes holidays really uncomfortable, but more because people in the Bengali community can't mind their own business.

LoveSarah 4 years 8 weeks

I think you should never live your life with any regrets or unanswered questions. You'll never know if that person is the one in less you try it out. If things end badly, oh well, it was at least a learning experience.

RockAndRepublic 4 years 8 weeks

Hell no! Family friends are mainly oldsters i hate having any kind of conversation with.

lickety split 4 years 8 weeks

probably a no. i did this is college. his aunt and my parents ran in the same circle for YEARS. he was jewish and i was not and after we started dating everyone thought it was so cute! until it got serious and then it was all about the religion thing. when i got married his aunt gave me a very lovely gift (that was 12 years ago). so this last chiristmas i was at a party she was at and asked about her nephew. she was still very weird about it. hello, obviously i moved on, but can i know how he is? turns out he actually lives near me. is married and has a couple of kids.

ashopaholic 4 years 8 weeks

NO NO NO. I have been crushing on a family friend, but in no way in hell would I ever tell anyone about it, let alone be forward with him! Though my mom did hint at it once, and I was like ew :P

ashopaholic 4 years 8 weeks

NO NO NO. I have been crushing on a family friend, but in no way in hell would I ever tell anyone about it, let alone be forward with him! Though my mom did hint at it once, and I was like ew :P

mortar31 4 years 8 weeks

this would be a no!

mortar31 4 years 8 weeks

this would be a no!

SusanTeufel 4 years 8 weeks

I didn't. I had a huge crush on a family friend, but thankfully that didn't work out :)When are you having your baby, Sass? I'm pregnant too :)

SusanTeufel 4 years 8 weeks

I didn't. I had a huge crush on a family friend, but thankfully that didn't work out :) When are you having your baby, Sass? I'm pregnant too :)

sass317 4 years 8 weeks

After college I moved back to the home state and started dating the son of old family friends- fortunately for us it worked out and we have been married for 2 years now and expecting our first baby. So obviously for me it was worth the risk :)

chatondeneige 4 years 8 weeks

Having done this - HUGE don't. Like spectra, in college I dated a guy whose family was friends with my family through church. We'd known each other since we were ten, went to different high schools, but then went to the same university. We dated, we made plans for our future, it was great. Our families no longer speak to each other - looking back, I'd rather have that whole family as friends than to have had the few years of happiness followed by heartbreak.

Spectra 4 years 8 weeks

Big don't! When I was in college, there was this guy that went to my church that was friends with my parents. He was a couple of years older than me, but I did think he was cute and my mom wouldn't shut up about how great of a couple we'd be, etc. Turns out, once I got to know him and traveled to Ukraine with him, I found out that he was a giant asshole and told my mom I'd NEVER date him. And for about 6 months, my mom kept telling me that I should give him another chance and that we'd be great together and all kinds of crap like that. The issue was probably more with my mother than with him, but I really don't want to date a guy that my mom loves more than I do.

Allytta 4 years 8 weeks

doesn't a family friend usually mean a friend of your parents'? it means he is older, so i guess that would be weird. but i'd give it a go. who says it has to end awkwardly? people just need to practice the art of keeping all relationships friendly, even if you break up. one of my ex boyfriends is my best friend now.

Link Love

18 Comments

You Might Also Like