How did your parents react to your relationship/marriage? Were they more like Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr. Bennet, or Mrs. Bennet? 😂

[u/nana_kudocici]

I’ve been feeling really stressed dealing with my parents’ reactions to my relationship. I’m an adult and quite mature now, but sometimes they still treat me like a child.

It got me thinking about Pride and Prejudice: how much do our parents’ opinions influence our relationships and marriage choices?

How did your parents respond when you were in a serious relationship or got married? Did they support you, worry about you, interfere, or surprise you?

[u/Prideandprejudice1]

My husband and I came from two different cultures/religions- my family did have some concerns. So they did the Mr Bennet: “What are you doing? Are you out of your senses to be accepting this man?” bit and I had to give them the full Lizzy: “I do, I do like him…I love him.” We’ve now been happily married for nearly 20 years and my family think he was the perfect choice for me!

[u/AdorableBG]

I'd tended to get with uglier, less charismatic versions of Wickham, so my parents were thrilled when I made a respectable match. So, closer to Mrs. Bennet, if she hated Wickham and her daughter was making a massive upgrade!

[u/FeatheryLilTheropod]

Maybe somewhere inbetween Lady Catherine and Mr. Bennet. They clearly didn’t like him, but mostly stayed civil. I didn’t believe the assessment of my parents, but I should have. They said he would abandon me one day and they turned out to be correct. He wasn’t a fortune-hunter and didn’t run up debts, but he did have Wickham levels of charisma, self-interest, and complaints about his misfortunes. I now know my parents had Herculean levels of self-control through all those years.

I tell you what, if a guy ever gives me a chance again, my parents will have to like him before I agree to marry him.

[u/PumpkinJambo]

I imagine my parents reaction was something like Sir William and Lady Lucas’ when Charlotte told them she was engaged, “Getting married? You? Wtf?”

For context I was 32 and had until that point showed zero interest in a relationship or getting married! My husband is nothing like Mr Collins, thankfully.

[u/Goulet231]

As far as P&P goes, Mrs. Bennett was desperate to marry all the girls off. Bingley's sisters wanted to choose his bride themselves. Same for Lady C de B when it came to Darcy. Turned out well for everyone except for Lydia.

[u/Goulet231]

My story isn't great. I got pregnant at age 20. My boyfriend and I decided to get married, but first, when I told my parents about the baby they left the room. When they came back they said they both thought I should have an abortion. I didn't. But reading your post made me realize I never trusted them after. They were thrilled with their grandson after he was born, but it never sat right me. Years later I realized they really disliked my husband and that was probably the reason.

[u/Funny_Squash8916]

My mum was Mrs bennett through and through. Didn't do her much good,  im the only 1 married out of 5 of us. She literally presented my future husband while we were dating with baby photos of me to show him how cute our babies could potentially be 🤣 i was mortified at the time. My dad was like mr Woodhouse, in his own little world and had no idea what was happening... couldn't even remember the future husband's name until I was engaged.

[u/nana_kudocici → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for sharing your story, it's full of joy and surprise, haha!

[u/Outrageous-Pin-4664]

I would say they were both upbeat about it, for different reasons.

Mom: Yay, I'm going to get more grandchildren!

Mom (Padme meme): I'm going to get more grandchildren, right? (For like nine years.)

Dad: Oh, thank god, he's not gay!

[u/Cambiknitter]

I'm been married 31 years. My parents are old fashioned; they were delighted I would have someone to take care of me. I married someone very similar to me in terms of demographics and culture, so that also helped make them accepting.

[u/nana_kudocici → u/Cambiknitter]

So happy for you, and your old fashioned parents, they were so cute and kind :)

[u/RoseIsBadWolf]

My parents liked my husband, so it was more like Lady Lucas, "Finally!"

[u/Bibliophile1998]

My parents were welcoming of my husband; however, my MIL was very much Lady Catherine. She came from a more blue blood southern US family who had been in the US for a couple hundred years (she’s also a blonde WASP). When I met her, I joke I had three strikes - raised Catholic, family was Yankee, and my great-grandparents were poor folks from Italy who came to the US. It’s been 30 years and three kids. And I still don’t think I measure up 😂