| Adapted from an online discussion. Hello, Carolyn: My daughter is 24 and has a very tight friend group. She recently let me know she’s dating a 46-year-old man and wants my husband and me to join her and her friend group in an event where the boyfriend will be meeting everyone for the first time. I’m probably going to be lambasted for this question; however, here it is. I feel the friend group — a super-close girlfriend in particular — should meet the boyfriend first. If my daughter and the boyfriend are a good fit after that, then my husband and I would meet him. I think the “meeting the parents” scenario should be reserved for someone she’s on a serious track with. If the boyfriend were 30, I’d probably feel differently about that last part, but I still would like him to be a fit for her friend group prior to meeting him. Okay, let me have it. — Hesitant Parent | 
