What can I do to ease my parents into the idea of letting me date him? Any ideas? Like any other “skill,” being able to date successfully takes practice. [...] for you to become socially capable/adept, you should be able to start dating in groups. Perhaps this would be a persuasive argument when talking to your parents. Dear Abby: I met my girlfriend a year ago and we are hopelessly in love. Recently, we moved in together in the house I owned after my divorce from my first marriage. If I try to administer it, she has a fit and we argue. Because she gave up her apartment so she and her children could move in with me, I would never want them to leave. Start now, because if you don’t begin seeing eye to eye, I guarantee that you’ll both stay miserable, and it will undermine your relationship. The way to handle it is for one person who is closest to this co-worker to have a private talk with him and tell him that if he doesn’t stop complaining, he will no longer be welcome to join you because he has embarrassed every member of “the lunch bunch.”