Meeting your significant other’s parents is always an adventure, with your peace of mind and reputation on the line. You might charm your future mother-in-law by eating bitter pancakes, or you might meet her in just your underwear with an iron in hand.

We put together 16 stories where an ordinary dinner turned into a comedy, proving that even a fallen dental bridge or a hole in a sock is no obstacle to true love.

• I visited my husband for the first time during the daytime when his parents were at work. But a neighbor decided to call his mom. She rushed from the factory at lunchtime to check on me. There I was, standing in my underwear, ironing my skirt and blouse.
  We looked at each other with our mouths open, and suddenly she says, “Let me do the ironing, this iron is old, it would be a shame if this beautiful blouse gets burned. You take a seat and rest.” And every one of the 25 years until her last day, whenever we visited her, she would say, “Take a seat and rest,” while she bustled around.
  Now, when my daughter and son-in-law come to visit, or my son brings his girlfriend, I make them sit down too, and don’t let them do anything. They’ll have plenty of time to run around in life. Let there be a place where they can just relax. © Simptomchick / Pikabu

• I was dating a girl and suggested we move in together. She says we need to meet her father first. So, I’ve got no choice but to go over for dinner that evening.
  Her mother opens the door, I politely say hello and hand over a bouquet — everything goes smoothly. I step into the living room, and there’s my dean. Not just a dean, but the person I regularly help with computer issues; the person with whom I’ve had deep conversations since the third year; the person I know in a very different light than how one typically sees a fiancée’s parent.
  Dinner was surprisingly quiet. Mostly my girlfriend and her mom chatted. “Dad” and I silently stared at our plates, occasionally glancing at each other — and then quickly pretending nothing was wrong. © Overheard / Ideer
• When my mom was young, she wasn’t allowed to stay out late, so she and my dad sat on a bench near her home until 10 p.m. One night, the light above the bench started flickering on and off, and my dad decided to comment on the situation loudly, “Who’s the fool messing around with the light?”
  That “fool” was his future father-in-law, who had come out to call his daughter inside since she hadn’t come home by 10 p.m. Since then my dad has been calling his father-in-law “Dad,” they loved each other so much. © Overheard / Ideer

• Meeting the parents. I’m nervous. We’re sitting on a white couch, and I’m making timid attempts to engage in conversation. Then I spotted the tomato juice and, as a true connoisseur of tomato juices, decided to give it a little shake without looking and flipped the carton a couple of times.
  Only, the juice was open, and the whole white couch, the mom, the cat, and everything else ended up covered in red liquid. We didn’t break up, but from that moment on, they keep telling me, “Careful, the juice is open!” © Overheard / Ideer
• My girlfriend took me to meet her parents. She made me get up at 6 a.m. because they live in another city, and we needed to catch the earliest bus. I was so sleepy that I barely got myself together, didn’t even check what I was putting on.
  When I was taking off my shoes at their place, I discovered there was a hole in my sock! I was really embarrassed, and there was no way to hide it. I hoped they wouldn’t notice, but unfortunately her dad did.
  Half an hour later, he called me over and whispered to me, “Here, take my socks, I know how it is. I’ve been through this before, don’t worry!” This man is great. © Overheard / VK

• Today my brother (17 years old) brought his girlfriend home for the first time to introduce her to our mom. Mom got nervous and went to visit a friend instead… © AHbKA / Pikabu
• About 30 years ago, my wife’s aunt brought her future husband to meet her mom. Her mom prepared for the visit, baked a whole mountain of pancakes, sat the potential son-in-law down, and began treating him and asking questions.
  He seemed a bit sluggish, eating without much appetite, but didn’t refuse a second helping. Then the aunt decided to try a pancake herself, took a bite, chewed… Ew! And spit it out.
  “Mom, have you tried your pancakes?”
  “Not yet, I haven’t had time…”
  “Well, try them!”
  Her mom took a bite… Oh my, the pancakes were bitter! They conducted a small investigation and realized that she had generously sprinkled baking soda in the batter instead of sugar. Her mom was amazed:
  “Oh, I was wondering why they turned out so nice and fluffy! Why didn’t you say anything, son-in-law?”
  “I didn’t want to offend anyone…”
  They laughed, of course, and then the mom concluded:
  “Well, — she said to her daughter, — at least your cooking won’t kill him!”
  And that’s how they have lived ever since. © MihZlobin / Pikabu

• First visit to my husband’s family. My head is a whirlwind of panic, comparisons, and inner casting: will I fit in or not. The age difference lingers in the air, even if nobody talks about it.
  We’re almost there, and I’m nervously chewing gum. Right at that moment, my body decides it’s had enough stress, and the bridge with 3 top teeth just falls out. Confidence lost, smile gone, but a life lesson learned.
  At least the evening went peacefully — I kept quiet, listened, and looked much wiser than I had planned.
• My brother is 23 and he lives with me and our parents. We all knew he was dating someone. And we knew she was older. Our parents really wanted to meet her.
  The day for introductions finally came. Mom spent all morning at the stove, Dad and I cleaned the house, and my brother was nervous, constantly running off to shower. Just as he went for another rinse, the doorbell rang.
  Mom opened the door to a woman around 40. She said, “Hello, I’m Maria!” Before she could say another word, my mom eagerly pulled her into the apartment. Announced to everyone, “Meet Maria.”
  Dad and I were in shock. My brother said she was a bit older, but not by 20 years. We sat down at the table, and Mom started asking her all sorts of questions. My brother came out of the shower, and we told him Maria had come. He walked into the room and was stunned.
  “Mom, that’s not my girlfriend.”
  “Really?” Mom turned questioningly to Maria.
  “It’s a different Maria. My ex…”
  It turned out they used to date, and she just stopped by for a chat. His actual girlfriend came later. She was 24, and quite lovely. © Not everyone will understand / VK

• Yesterday, I met a girl. We had a great time at her place. Suddenly, someone knocked persistently at the door. The girl whispered, “My parents are back! So, if anything, we’ve been dating for a month already. Don’t even think about saying we just met yesterday.”
  After those words, she opened the door and let her parents in. Her mother examined me with an icy smile. Her father seemed grumpy and indifferent to everything.
  “Hello,” her mother greeted me with exaggerated warmth. “Well, let’s get acquainted. I’m Helen.”
  “Nice to meet you,” I replied. And for some reason, I lied, “I’m Max.”
  So, we had some tea with them. It was a bit strange to respond to Max. But it already felt too awkward to admit I lied. “Are you out of your mind?” the girl asked me when she was seeing me out in the hallway. But she still agreed to meet me again.
  About a month later, our relationship became official. I was invited to her father’s birthday. The hardest part was keeping my face straight when I said, “Helen, excuse me, but I’m no longer Max. Now I’m Gregory.” © Bladerunner42 / Pikabu

• I gave money to an old man in need several times. He never asked for anything, I just felt sorry for him.
  Then this happened: I met my future in-laws at the station (it was our first meeting) and drove them home. We arrived at the house and were walking to the entrance. Suddenly, this old man jumps out of the dumpster, smiling with his toothless mouth, waving, and shouting at me, “Hello, son!” My mother-in-law was quite stunned. © Achronim / Pikabu
• Once, my brother brought his girlfriend to meet our grandmother. It was a serious affair, almost like an engagement. The girlfriend’s name was Kate.
  At that time, our grandmother had a tiny but utterly untrained dog whose name was also Katie. It barked all the time. As they entered the living room, Katie flew toward them barking loudly.
  Grandma, without batting an eye, commanded, “Katie, sit!” And then Kate, pale and extremely polite, sat down in the nearest chair without a word. You could see she was nervous, trying to make a good impression.
  Grandma was taken aback. My brother was too. Meanwhile, Katie kept on barking without sitting down. The introduction was as awkward as possible and therefore — perfect.

• A guy invited me over for tea, and his mom was there too. Without holding back, she kept asking personal questions, like how much I earn, what assets I have, whether I have a bank account, and HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN IT! There were other strange questions as well.
  And her little darling son just sat there quietly, listening and not trying to intervene. Needless to say, our communication ended there. © Lisenok21 / ADME
• Once, a guy brought me to meet his grandma. He introduced me, and at first, she didn’t hear properly and asked again, then waved her hand and said, “Helen, Vicky, Lora… Always new ones, I won’t remember anyway.” © Overheard / Ideer

• Today, I was at a festive dinner with my girlfriend at her parents’ place — you know, a meet and greet. I’m sitting across from her mother at the table when suddenly I feel someone’s stroking my leg. I loudly say, “What the heck?” Everyone went silent, her face dropped, and then a cat emerged from under the table. © SHAME / VK

In the end, 20 years from now, you won’t remember the color of the tablecloth at that dinner, but how your father-in-law saved you with his spare socks, or how you managed to spill tomato juice on everything, including the cat. After all, it’s these little mishaps that bring us closer. How did your first meeting with your future in-laws go? Share in the comments!

And here are more funny stories about meeting the family.