10 Fathers Who Surprised Everyone by Accepting Their Daughters’ Partners

First impressions in relationships can be deceiving, especially when it comes to fathers meeting their daughters’ boyfriends. Often, dads are protective and skeptical, forming judgments based on initial appearances. However, love and respect can develop in unexpected ways. This collection highlights 10 touching stories of fathers who completely changed their opinions about their daughters’ partners, proving that sometimes, it takes time for understanding to grow. And at the end, there’s a bonus story about a guy who tried his best to be a good partner, but instead earned the father’s hatred.

• At first, I couldn't stand him. He was loud, always cracking jokes, and seemed too carefree for my daughter. I tried to warn her, but she was head over heels. Then one weekend, I had to leave town for work. When I came back early, I found Jake alone in the kitchen, fixing something to eat. My daughter wasn’t home. "Where is she?" I asked, trying not to sound suspicious. "She’s at a friend’s," he said, then hesitated. "Actually, I need to tell you something." I braced myself, expecting some nonsense. Instead, Jake confessed he'd noticed something about my daughter’s health that I hadn’t—something serious. He’d taken her to a doctor without telling me, and it turned out she had a condition that required immediate treatment. I was floored. This cocky kid had cared enough to save her. I never expected that from him. From that moment on, I saw him differently. Maybe he wasn’t such a bad guy after all.

• My dad would always tell me, "You should really try to meet new people at school. You never know if you might find someone better suited for you."
  Then one day, my boyfriend approached him about working with my dad landscaping for the summer. My boyfriend proved himself to be the strongest worker, and now my dad calls him his right-hand man. Plus, my boyfriend bought my dad Fallout 3, and now they’re inseparable.
  My boyfriend and I have been together for five years. My boyfriend's dad passed away when he was 11, so it’s really nice to see him so close with my dad, even if I feel like the third wheel sometimes. © Unknown Author / Reddit

• I’d say my girlfriend’s father likes me. The first time I met him, I was driving over to pick her up for a movie. When I pulled into the driveway, the garage door was open, and inside was a '69 Mustang with parts scattered everywhere. Underneath the car was her dad—oil-covered, greasy, and clearly frustrated.
  He was trying to unbolt something but struggling to hold the part and work the ratchet at the same time. I noticed and figured I’d help him out before heading off with my girlfriend. So, I jumped underneath to lend a hand. Two hours later, I realized I’d completely lost track of time.
  During that time, my girlfriend came out, saw me working with her dad, and instead of being upset, she brought us sandwiches and sweet tea. She didn’t mind skipping the movie because she could tell I was enjoying myself—and so was her dad. I’m going to marry this girl, and hopefully one day, that Mustang will be ours! © IxJAXZxI / Reddit

• My dad adores my husband. Why? Because on the very first day they met, my husband sat down and watched TV with him while I was getting ready.
  A little context: Before I met my husband, I was with my ex for four years—and he had no backbone when it came to my dad. Every time he came over, he’d say a quick, nervous hello and then bolt downstairs to my basement apartment. Four years, and he was still terrified of my dad.
  So, when my future husband came over and actually sat down with my dad instead of running away, they instantly liked him. My dad is a scary looking dude. © 29100610478021 / Reddit

• When I first met my girlfriend’s dad, he’d had a long weekend. Not wanting to disturb him, we went to her room to watch movies. Knowing Dad's worry, I made sure to leave the door completely open. We watched movies until about 10:30, when her dad called her into the living room. It was apparently time for me to leave, and she said he made that clear, somewhat sternly. I put on my shoes and headed out, but he had already gone to bed.
  The next weekend, there was a water carnival in town, a yearly event, and I showed up. I saw him again and apologized, explaining that I lost track of time and didn’t mean to disrespect him. I asked if there was anything I could do to make it up to him. His expression softened, and he smiled a bit before saying, “You can help me make the burgers for all these folks.” And so, we did. © k0uch / Reddit

• My girlfriend’s father and I don’t speak the same language—literally. Whenever we’re left alone together, we just engage in the awkward smiling and nodding routine. But one Saturday, I helped him lay a ton of patio stones in his back garden, and now he sometimes sends me baked goods.
  Nailed it! © ACompanionUnobtrusiv / Reddit

• My youngest son has a type of congenital myopathy that makes him very weak. While he can walk, he can't run or jump and falls down a lot. Needless to say, he finds this very humiliating (he is 16).
  We were at a restaurant, and my son was standing next to me with untied shoelaces. Unfortunately, he tripped and, due to his weakness, could not catch himself, crashing heavily to the ground in the middle of a crowded restaurant.
  My daughter's boyfriend, without missing a beat, immediately lay down next to him on the floor and asked, "How is it going down here?" He made some small talk to ease some of my son's embarrassment. He has always treated my son like his little brother, but that selfless act was unforgettable. Needless to say, I have loved him like a son ever since. © mikechatdoc / Reddit

• My dad is a large, bearded, and slightly intimidating man to the untrained eye (though to us kids, he's just a big, cuddly bear). Naturally, my wonderful boyfriend might have been a little nervous meeting him—until he mentioned the computers he works with.
  My dad’s eyes lit up, and soon they were deep in conversation, debating which systems are best. Then the topic shifted to Star Wars, Star Trek... and how I leave hair in the shower drain and dishes "soaking" for days. Yup, they bonded over their shared nerdiness—and my ditzy habits. © mollypop94 / Reddit

• My father-in-law was pretty wary of me at first—you could tell he wasn’t quite sure about this new guy in his daughter’s life. I took him to a baseball game, and while we got along fine, he still seemed a little on edge.
  Later, we were chatting in his office when I noticed an Eagle Scout badge framed on his wall. I asked about his Eagle project, and we started talking about it. When I mentioned that I was also an Eagle Scout, you could see his whole perception of me change almost instantly.
  That year, he even wrote in his Christmas letter that he approved of me dating his daughter. Now, we’re married with two kids and a third on the way. © irumeru / Reddit

• My daughter has depression. She's always been the black sheep of the family; the one daughter closer to me than their mom. So then here comes this scruffy-faced, long-haired kid. His school performance is less than stellar. He has a terrible work ethic, as far as I can tell. He was smart, but I just felt like he was destined to have no real-world success whatsoever. But I paid attention, because my daughter's not stupid, and I figured that there must be some reason she chose this guy.
  
  Soon it became very apparent why. He gets her. She can be having a very bad day with the depression, but not long after she's with him she's laughing. And it's obvious he loves her, just from the way he talks to her, and looks at her - not in a lustful way, but in a caring way. © ALurkingDad / Reddit

Bonus: a story about a guy who tried his best to be a good partner, but instead earned the father’s hatred.

• I decided to be a good boyfriend and brought roses when I picked my girlfriend up for our date. She loved them, put them in a vase and left the vase on the kitchen counter. We went out.
  When I dropped her off, her dad was cooler than being cool to me. Couldn’t figure out why — I’d done everything by the book. Skedaddled as quickly as I could, because whatever I had done was clearly the wrong move.
  She called me 30 minutes later to explain: her mom had come home, saw the roses, and assumed they were a gift from dad. Was so happy because he never does stuff like that for her, and it was so sweet and romantic. He came home. She thanked him for the thoughtful gesture. He said “what?” A fight ensued. © Unknown author / Reddit

Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to build a good relationship, even after marriage. Especially rare are positive relationships between daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law. Here’s the story of a woman whose mother-in-law crossed every possible boundary.