Fine Dining
U/AgentT3xas: “Asked my father whether he had ever disliked any of my former boyfriends and why. He informed me that whenever we went out to eat and my dad was picking up the tab, one of my ex-boyfriends would invariably select the priciest item on the menu. After a while, my parents turned it into a wager to see which of the two most costly dishes my ex would choose.
Edit: Order something you’d enjoy eating and would pay for yourself if you’re worried about what your significant other’s parents might think. Offer to cover the cost of the item if it is more expensive.”
Long-Term Gain
U/phalanges10: “Her partner was leaving for basic training two states away, and my daughter was starting graduate school. She wore an engagement ring when she returned from a visit two months later. His first assignment after training was to a location that was rather far away. Rather than leaving school to come to live with him, he urged her to stay and finish. Gains over time offset short-term hardship.
After graduating, he paid for her travel to join him, and at Christmas, he flew home for a modest courthouse wedding. (Because the fiancée does not receive benefits, the spouse does.) Final outcome: attempting for a first child and approaching the five-year anniversary. I’m incredibly happy for her.”
Geeky Connection
U/mollypop94: “To a casual eye, my dad appears to be a massive, bearded, and rather frightening man (though to us kids, he’s just a giant, cuddling bear). My ideal boyfriend was naturally anxious until he talked about the computers he had to deal with at work.
My dad’s eyes brightened, and they started talking and arguing over what was best to use, etc. Afterwards, they discussed Star Wars and Star Trek, as well as my habit of leaving dishes to soak and occasionally forgetting to take out the garbage and my hair in the shower drain. Yes. They got along because they both loved nerdy stuff, and I was ditzy.”
Charades and Dancing
U/ihl2003: “I don’t speak Spanish, and my fiance’s father doesn’t speak English. We began chatting that first-night using hand gestures, grunts, and other such sounds. It’s clear from their charades-style exchange that the family’s female members irritate him.
When they realize it, they begin giving him Spanish lessons. I nod to him and begin the t—— shots. We end up dancing to bachata together after becoming very d——. Yes, we’ve become close friends.”
Mixed Feelings
U/DAT_CANKLE: “The other day, I very cautiously asked my dad if he thought my boyfriend was cute. What a sarcastic man my dad is. It’s difficult to tell when he is sincere. In any case, he eventually acknowledged that “even though he is a bit scatterbrained,” he did enjoy my guy.
I told him that I didn’t care if he was scatterbrained as long as he treated me well, listened to me, showed interest in my interests and hobbies, loved me and appreciated the things I did for him, never put me down, took care of my family and pets, gave me support, believed in me, and picked me up when I was down. My father just answered, “Well, I guess he’s fine.”
No Running Man
U/29100610478021: “My father adores my husband. Why? Because on the first day, when I was getting dressed, he sat down and watched TV with them. A little context: Prior to meeting my husband, my ex-boyfriend had nothing.
Even after four years of dating, he remained afraid of my dad. Every time he dropped by (he stayed over most weekends; I lived in the basement apartment), he would wave briefly and dash downstairs for four years. They loved my future husband right away because he didn’t “run” when he arrived. My father has a frightening appearance.”
Eagle Scout Family
U/irumeru: “My father-in-law was unsure about the outsider who was involved in his daughter’s life. We got along fine when I took him to a baseball game, but he remained on edge. Later, as we were chatting in his office, I saw that he had framed his Eagle Scout badge. We got to talking when I questioned him about his Eagle project. I also said that I was an Eagle Scout.
You could see how quickly his entire view of me changed. His approval of my dating his daughter was stated in his Christmas letter, and now that we are married and have two children and one on the way, we are happy together.”
Kindred Spirits
U/Daltxpony: “In a sense, I am my father-in-law. I own a vehicle, go camping, hike, hunt, fish, and oversee small groups at my church. Her brother, Father, and I usually wind up shooting our bows or working on one of the four jeeps between us when we are together.
When I stepped in, it was pretty simple. He asked what I liked to do when I was 14, and I told him I was in. He’s an incredible man, and the older I become, the more like him I am, which I love. Edit: For the record, I’m approaching 30 years old.”
Honest Guy
U/galby2011: “My father-in-law asked me about my goals, education, and other things the first night I met him. ‘Are you an a——?’ was his last query to me. After giving it some thought, I recall saying, “Yes,” but I also added that I was the kind of a——— who would laugh at you if you fell, but I would never be the one to trip you. After pausing briefly, he exclaimed, “I like him!”
He has always maintained that everyone is an a——and that any effort to convince him otherwise would be equivalent to lying to both him and to yourself.”
Marriage Material
U/To_dog: “Even though I’m not a father and he’s my younger sister’s boyfriend, I believe that my parents and I all knew right away that he was a lovely man. However, I was informed that her uterus had to be removed in order for her never to have children when my sister had cancer a few months after they started dating.
Without struggling, he attended her to every appointment and supported her during every therapy. She was always thoughtful, comforting, and the best source of support she could ask for. At that point, we moved from thinking, “He’s a good guy,” to thinking, “He’s THE guy.” In lighter news, my sister’s cancer has been defeated, and they will tie the knot next month.”
Acceptance Granted
U/KryleKrenin: “About three years into our dating relationship, my girlfriend’s father said at the dinner table that he accepted me. We don’t get to see her parents very often because they live on the opposite side of the nation, but we spent a week at their cabin.
I cooked a whole bunch of ribs, and her dad says, “KryleKrenin, you can talk politics and make good ribs,” around halfway through dinner. You are accepted by me. We hugged the last time I saw him.”
Dad’s Approval
U/connorjayy: “My partner’s father may find me attractive. My partner claims to like me. Upon our first few climbing trips, he was somewhat reserved at first, but he soon warmed up to me and even gave me some “teaching.” In addition, I helped his daughter stay focused during her time in college. She acknowledged that without me, she would not have persisted and obtained an acceptable master’s degree.
I believe the father would be grateful that I have a positive influence on his daughter. He must be kind of like me since he opens a couple of bottles of w— or c——– whenever I visit his house now, which is just a few times a year.”
Family Bonds
U/ktshimshaw: “Here’s my daughter. We began dating in grade 11 after my dad first got to know him when we were in grade 4. We’ve been a couple ever since. We’ve both reached the age of 20. My boyfriend seems like a really kind guy, and no one particularly hates him, so perhaps that’s why my dad and he ended up together. He started his apprenticeship this past year after being employed by my dad. I entered the same field as my mother.
I now work for my parents, as do my partner and I. He treats him the same way he would if he were his kid, and we are close with both of my parents. In October, all of us will be traveling to Mexico. We don’t really talk to my boyfriend’s parents, though.”
Summer Neglect
U/obievil: “The summer, my daughter’s boyfriend paid her no attention. Very few texts or phone calls. He had promised to call her, but he would not get back to her for up to four days at a stretch. She was upset when he traveled out of state for three weeks. When she finally returned, she had to go to his house before he would even acknowledge her.
The worst part is that I can see into his backyard from one of my windows; he’s basically next door. This is just a convenient relationship for him; she’s all in.”
Flower Power
“My daughter’s boyfriend shook my hand strongly and smiled charmingly when I first met him. I liked him right away. However, as time passed, I began to notice something odd about him. My late wife’s favorite flower was lilies, so every time he came to visit, he would always bring many of them. It brought back memories of our shared affection and made me smile. However, one day, he showed up without any flowers. ‘I’m sorry, sir,’ was his simple response when I asked him where they were. There aren’t any lilies here today.
I dismissed it, assuming it was merely a coincidence. However, it then happened once more. Once more. Never lilies during a visit. There was a problem. I had to find out what was going on. When I questioned my daughter, she replied that she told him that every time she saw flowers, it brought back memories of her mother. He didn’t want to bring them around anymore, so her boyfriend stopped doing so.”
Famous Face
“As soon as my daughter introduced me to Alex, her new lover, I hated him. He seemed strange in some way, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. To get to know him better, I asked him over for supper one evening. Suddenly, as we were seated around the table, Alex reached into his pocket and took out a tiny velvet box. As he bent down to one knee, my heart skipped a beat. “Mr. Johnson, you have my undying affection and my lifelong commitment to raising your daughter.” Would you approve of my marrying her? As they all held their breath, they awaited my answer.
I made a snap decision that would alter everything at that exact instant. I responded, “No,” looking directly at Alex with a severe grumble on my face. I will never throw my favor onto you. My daughter gasped, and Alex’s face went pale; obviously, they weren’t anticipating that response. I informed him that I knew they weren’t meant to be together when he questioned why I hadn’t given him my blessing. However, the reality was far different. It flashed on me as he was questioning me where I had seen his face before. He was featured on a Most Wanted list in the Crime Watch episode from last week. My daughter cannot associate with individuals such as him.”
Sticky Fingers
“My daughter told our family about Max, her new lover. He appeared attractive and polite at first. Everyone was happy, but not me. There was something about him that made me feel uneasy. When we were all sitting down to supper one evening, Max excused himself to go the bathroom. With an innocent smile in his eye, my father learned in as soon as he exited the room.
You know, I was quite the detective back in the day,” he said. Max is hiding something, I found out after doing some research on him. We all leaned in closer, eager to hear the juicy details. My father went on, “Do you remember that nice watch I lost a long time ago?” I tracked it and found that it had fallen into the hands of a gang that steals from families and resells their belongings for a profit. Max seems to be associated with them and has been looking through the house for the next item to steal, in my opinion.”
Games Bond
U/Z0MBGiEF: “My daughter’s ex-boyfriend was like the son I never had. He is a highly proficient competitive gamer who regularly places in the top 1% of games played, and we share a common interest in gaming. I used to be a really competitive gamer and enjoyed comparable success when I was his age. Despite the fact that he and my daughter haven’t dated in a few years, he and I became friends and are still friends.
I felt terrible when they split up. Although he’s quite sweet, the new lover has large shoes to fill. The fact that I will be hanging out with her ex-boyfriend continues to bother my daughter. The lesson here, girls, is to bring home d——— so we can just always hate them.”
Spidey-Sense
“I’d always thought my daughter’s boyfriend was strange, but I wasn’t sure why. He invited me to have dinner at their apartment one day. There was an odd odor in the air when I stepped in. He led me into the dining room, where my pale and nervous daughter was sitting already. I took a seat and observed as the boyfriend of my daughter pulled out a tray with a silver lid.
He lifted it unexpectedly to reveal a tarantula that had been deep-fried. It was incredible to me. He wanted to show us about his culture and informed me that it’s quite popular in his own Thailand. We were not going to eat that in any manner. We ordered a pizza instead. That’s the last time I let him cook for us.”
The Old Man’s Exit
U/patty1955: “My spouse informed his daughter a number of years ago that it was time for the lads to go and for her to enter the house. “Old man, you better get your aback in your house,” a young man said while looking up at my spouse.
Even with my husband’s extreme physical condition, it only took the child five minutes to find him, and they were never seen again. No big deal, the daughter responded; she wasn’t interested in that foolish person anyway.”
Courageous Encounter
U/CookingwithClay: “The stepfather of my high school girlfriend’s secondary school girlfriend was extremely neurotic, extremely short-tempered, and quite religious. Therefore, it was inevitable that he would learn about me. One day, as I was walking to class, my friend yelled at me, ‘Go home.’ Why, I ask? Please just go home, he says. I keep going with the unwavering resolve of I —-; my girlfriend then approaches me and tells me to go home because “he’s here and looking for you.” No, I reply.
I run into this tall, irate man who seems to be attempting to burn me with his gaze. After we speak, he walks away. I learned later that he thought I was a good person for meeting him rather than s——-.”
Proven a Man
“You should really try to meet new people at school,” my father would always encourage me. You never know who might turn out to be a better match for you. Then, one day, my boyfriend asked him if he would be interested in spending the summer landscaping with my dad.
My dad now refers to my partner as his right-hand man because he has shown himself to be the hardest worker. In addition, my partner purchased Fallout 3 for me. My boyfriend and I have been together for five years, and they are now inseparable.”
Good Guy Gone Wrong
“Hate story: When I picked up my girlfriend for our date, I tried to be a decent boyfriend and brought pink roses. She put flowers in a vase, loved them, and then placed the vase on the kitchen counter. Her dad was even cooler than cool—that is, ice cold—to me when I dropped her off. I made a hasty retreat, as it was obvious that whatever I had done was incorrect.
After 30 minutes, she gave me a call to explain: the girlfriend’s mother had returned home, noticed the roses, and thought dad had given them to her. Was overjoyed because it was such a beautiful and romantic gesture, something he never does for her. He returned home. She expressed her gratitude to him for the kind act. “What?” he exclaimed. A brawl broke out. I was essentially scolded for embarrassing my father and spoiling his special night.”
Husband to the Rescue
U/jmurphy42: “A month or so before the wedding, my father had a night when he could no longer stand my now-husband. All of us were at my parents’ home. When my father went downstairs to check the basement because it was pouring quite a little, he found the sump pump had broken. We were rapidly flooding. My father began experiencing a severe panic attack. My fiancé maintained her cool as she started giving directions to everyone.
We had only lost one $30 Ikea coffee table at the end of the night when everything had been sorted out, and the pump was once again emptying the water, and it had been a purposeful sacrifice made to elevate other things. My father’s view of him significantly improved after that day.”
Not Sticking to Status Quo
“By marrying his daughter without first getting his consent, I managed to win over my father-in-law. He lived on the other side of the country, so I didn’t even meet him until after I proposed to her. I said, “Because you aren’t the one I want to marry, and (wife’s name) doesn’t need permission,” in response to his question about why I hadn’t asked him.
I just kind of stated it in a matter-of-fact manner without trying to come across as rude. It turns out that he never requested permission for marriage for the same reasons when he initially got married—he is currently in his 70s and was married when he was 18 or 20. But luckily for me, I won’t have to deal with my kid’s GF/bf/whatever since we don’t plan on ever having children :).”
Magical Friday Nights
U/ToxicAnwar: “Although my girlfriend’s dad and I actually met before I met her, I am the boyfriend in question. We engaged in a draft game of Magic: The Gathering and all I can recall about him is that, in contrast to some of the cold-blooded individuals you find at card shops, he was a truly pleasant person.
After a few months of dating, he finds out that I play Magic through my girlfriend. It turns out that the very night her dad and I played a game of Magic together, he went home and made jokes to her about “A very nice cute boy who goes to your high school that I played magic with.” Neither of us realized that we had played against each other previously. That boy is me; on Friday nights, her dad and I still play Magic.”
Mumble and Grumble
U/Nilesong: “Here, dad…When the boy arrived at my door, he gave me a half-a—-shake and muttered “right.” He informed me that he was a member of the Arsenal junior team. I believed there was no way after playing around with him because of his flat feet. Claimed to have scheduled engineering interviews with Audi. Days, weeks, and months passed, and all I got in return from this toe rag was a grunt or a garbled mutter.
Along with feeding and housing him, my wife and I drove his family to the airport. He never gave me even half a l—-, and my wife never received anything more than a bouquet. After the six years we had to endure, she and him are no longer together. She’s with this lovely boy now; he asks me how I am and looks me in the eye. He appeals to me.”
Nickname That Stuck
“The boy arrived for a Super Bowl get-together. Not as horrible as you might think? We celebrate the Super Bowl together as a family, and I get to spend the day with some of my best male friends who I see only occasionally throughout the year (at this party, which isn’t held at my place). He showed up empty-handed, the party wasn’t at my place, and he wasn’t invited.
I nicknamed him ‘#43’ all night, indicating he was the 43 boyfriend I’ve seen recently, and I refused to tell him his name. I also told him my daughter dates so many people that I can’t keep them all straight. I expressed my contempt for surprises and my dislike for him. Three years have passed, and he is still alive. It appears that the relationship is serious. He’s still my “#43.”
Send Help!
U/TheNameThatShouldNot: “from the boyfriend’s point of view, not the parent’s. I had parents for a girl who, no joke, disliked me just for being me. She had highly rigid parents who were inadequate to deal with an emotional young girl, so they would always blame her. Since I was unavoidably a teenage boyfriend, I asked why her parents were so crazy. The first real love also ached like a b—- for a very long time.
I also annoyed the parents of another girl since that evening, after we got together, she broke up with me, claiming that I was the one who had spent too much money on dinner. My parents love me after that. I’m a problem solver and IT specialist. I fix parents’ computers every week, and it’s the surefire way to win their hearts. Please send help.”
