Meeting your partner’s family for the first time doesn’t always go as planned. Even if things have been smooth between you and your other half, the worry of whether you’ll leave a good impression is off the charts. You feel anxious about saying the wrong thing, wearing the proper outfit, and navigating the rough waters of small talk. On top of that, you’re also nervous about how your prospective future family will make you feel.

“Recently, I started dating a girl. She’s great and I love her so much,” one Redditor shared in a story on the AITA subreddit. He knew meeting her parents and other family members was an important milestone that might take their relationship to the next level. But even with the best preparation, hiccups were unavoidable.

He found out that the male side of their Italian-American family is very into being macho and “testing” any guy who steps foot in their house. Suddenly, they felt the need to poke fun at his looks and career choices, and you can almost feel the tension in the room rising. So the user finally snapped and started clapping back in Italian. What followed was a very uncomfortable situation that led to some seriously bruised egos. Read on for the whole story, decide for yourself whether the man went a bit overboard, and weigh in on the situation in the comments!

Recently, a man shared how meeting his girlfriend’s Italian-American family that takes pride in their heritage went sour

Image credits: Askar Abayev (not the actual photo)

After “embarrassing” them by speaking Italian, he asked the internet to evaluate the situation

Image credits: Ashkan Forouzani (not the actual photo)

Later on, the user clarified a few details

When the topic turns to meeting your partner’s family for the first time, everyone has at least a few tips and tricks to share in a bid to calm you before this nerve-wracking occasion. After all, first impressions do matter, but so does being respectful to another human being. Thankfully, the author of this story can now feel at ease as the vast majority of Redditors took his side and applauded him for turning the tables on the macho men who tried to embarrass him.

However, the topic of the post sparks further discussion. Why do these family dinners often turn into the least enjoyable relationship milestones? And how to best survive these occasions without them putting a damper on our confidence? To learn what an expert had to say about this situation, we reached out to relationship coach Marta, the founder of MyCoachMarta.

“The first time you meet your partner’s family can feel like an audition,” she told Bored Panda. “As tribal creatures, we hope to be accepted by our ‘new tribe’, and typically, we have already encountered various family dynamics, such as controlling parents, those who believe no one is ever good enough for their kids, even groups who are outright judgmental. We hope for the best while preparing for the worst.”

According to research by Princeton psychologists Janine Willis and Alexander Todorov, a tenth of a second is all it takes for people to form an impression of a stranger from their face. So no wonder we put so much pressure on ourselves when venturing into unfamiliar waters to meet people who may become a part of our family. As Marta explained, this occasion often makes us anxious because it is undeniably a significant relational milestone.

“We want to, of course, get on with our in-laws, and simultaneously we’re discovering the dynamics our partner grew up with. There’s no escaping the fact that those dynamics affect how they show up in relationships. As much as we want to be welcomed and accepted by the family, we are also observing and using our filters to determine whether this tribe is similar to our own; and if there’s anything they passed on to our partner we don’t quite like.”

“First impressions matter,” Marta continued. “But nobody will be completely themselves in stressful circumstances, so I wouldn’t place too much importance on them. The way the relationship with the partner’s family evolves over time matters more than how it begins.”

The relationship coach shared that if you want things to go smoothly, a bit of research can go a long way. “Prior to meeting the family, speak with your partner and learn as much as you can about the individual members. You’ll be aware of what to anticipate, what to compliment them on, what they will or won’t appreciate, and what to watch out for, or not take personally. Be polite and complimentary but don’t over-perform,” she advised.

But just as in the scenario the user found himself in, some circumstances are unpredictable. Unnecessary drama and arguments can become a part of your relationship with your potential family, so it’s important to know how to find healthy solutions to the issues that arise. Marta explained that “handling conflict is a crucial interpersonal ability, so if arguments do occur, it’s a chance to showcase your relational skills.”

“If you can considerably and politely handle a dinner quibble, you’ll likely do well with disagreements in your marital home. That’s reassuring for the family and your partner,” she said. “If someone is being impolite or unpleasant, do uphold your boundaries. Communicating boundaries shows emotional maturity and spine, something the family likely wants their offspring’s partner to have.”

“Remember that your partner already chose you and what’s most important is that the relationship between the two of you is happy and healthy. Prioritize getting to know the family and developing a relationship over time rather than trying to perform on the day,” the relationship coach concluded.

After reading the story, here’s how the AITA community reacted to the family drama

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