DEAR ABBY: I am 26 and have been dating a nice man for three months and we have spent every weekend together. Recently, he has talked about taking me to a family celebration in another state. The conversation prompted me to initiate a discussion about where we are in our relationship. During the course of our talk, he explained that he feels it's too early for us to be an official couple. But he does want me to meet his parents.
I don't see why I should invest the time and energy to meet his family if he's still thinking about dating other people. Do you agree? -- NERVOUS IN D.C.
DEAR NERVOUS: I sure don't. When a man wants you to meet his family, it's a compliment. It doesn't necessarily mean he has marriage on his mind. If you are interested in him with an eye on becoming a couple, accept his invitation. It will give you a chance to see what kind of family he comes from and how they treat each other, which is valuable insight. It will also give his family a chance to see what a charming, personable woman you are.
If you refuse the invitation for the reason you stated, I'd be surprised if the relationship developed much further.