Meeting the parents is a nerve-wracking moment for any couple—but one family dynamic is sure to take the edge off.
A video posted by Jess Baker-Smith (@jessybakersmith) revealed the wacky family event she invited her boyfriend to after eight months: A thrift-store hat-making contest. Since the clip was posted only two days ago, it has received almost 1 million views, over 136,000 likes and nearly 400 comments.
"POV [point of view]: You waited eight months to introduce your boyfriend to your family because this is what our weekends look like," Baker-Smith captioned the video. "Welcome to the family, Harry."
@jessybakersmith Welcome to the family harry 😅❤️ #fyp #foryoupage #family #crazyfamily
♬ Do You Believe in Magic - The Lovin' Spoonful
The footage shows Baker-Smith's family members interacting while wearing increasingly ridiculous hats—from a shark's head to a balaclava to a flamingo. The event seemed intergenerational, too, with everyone from presumed siblings to grandparents participating.
In the comments, Baker-Smith wrote that the family competed against each other in a hat-making competition, in which everyone had to buy something from a thrift store and make headwear from it. In another comment, she clarified her reasons in bringing her boyfriend to the funny family gathering: "Had to know if he was special enough to intro to my special bunch."
Baker-Smith said that, for the family's yearly gathering, they always select a "fancy dress theme". This year's was self-explanatory.
Commenters were desperate for an invitation to such an event, wondering if Baker-Smith's family were "taking applications".
"Yes, I'd like to join your family please," @jazzysprinkles1 wrote. "We have some single boys looking for girlfriends," Baker-Smith replied.
"Dear hiring manager, I'd like to introduce myself," @6ft7.0 posted.
"I'd like to apply for a position in this family," @missv_2609 commented. "I did theater, so I have no shame whatsoever, which I think is an important quality for the job."
Meeting the Parents
Meeting a partner's parents is a potential stressor for any couple—even scientific research confirms it—and for good reason.
In a study published for Annals of Psychology in 2021 of eight heterosexual adults aged between 20 and 28 years old, researchers noted that in-laws and partners' parents play a critical role in relationships. The quality of contact with these parents can "affect satisfaction and marital success of a married couple," they wrote.
Beyond that, the researchers found that stress and fear were common components of anticipating parental introductions. They wrote: "The participants reported predictions of feeling stressed… but also of excitement, having no expectations, being ashamed by their own parents or being trustful in parents' behavior."
It seems Baker-Smith's boyfriend's meeting went well, though—well enough to make a TikTok video about it, at least—and viewers are clamoring for more footage of Baker-Smith family functions.
"What happens at Christmas?" one viewer asked. "Pure chaos," Baker-Smith replied.
Newsweek reached out to @jessybakersmith for comment via TikTok.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
