First meetings in relationships can be tricky, especially when dads meet their daughters’ partners. Many dads might seem protective or unsure at first, but love and respect can grow in surprising ways. This collection has 10 touching stories about how fathers changed their minds about their daughters’ partners.

The Story:

My wife passed away while giving birth to our daughter, so my daughter and I are very close. When she brought home a messy, unemployed guy who wanted to be in a band, I didn’t like him at all. Things got worse when they found out she was unexpectedly pregnant.

Then, her boyfriend came to talk to me. He looked me in the eye and admitted he was scared about being a dad. He told me he had started saving money and looking for a job. He said he knew he wasn’t perfect for my daughter, but he loved her a lot and wanted to support her, even if it meant giving up his music dreams.

I have to admit, we ended up getting along well. This guy I first judged turned out to be really nice and wanted the best for my daughter and their baby. That was enough for me, so I invited him to live with us and helped him get a job at my hospital. Now, I have two grandkids, and my daughter and her fiancé are getting married next weekend.