Mother-in-law tells daughter-in-law that she is way out of her son's league, his whole family agrees: 'My husband has been pretending it didn’t bother him, but he’s already self-conscious about his looks, and this made it worse.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Jul 10, 2026 8:30 PM EDT

She was wrong to say that about her son. 

How many relationships have ended because one of the people in it thinks the other one is out of their league? I know a lot of people who have felt insecure in relationships because they think their partner is much more attractive than they are, and they worry their partner will leave them because of it. Sometimes that is a genuine problem in dating. If you're with somebody who thinks they're much more good-looking than you, they will likely treat you worse than they'd treat a partner that they see as a genuine equal. 

I think we should care a whole heck of a lot less about looks, but even if you, as an individual, don't care about how you, your partner, or the public at large looks, there will always be somebody who has a lot to say about appearance. Your boss will judge you if you don't wear proper office attire. Your mom will be concerned that you "let yourself go" if you gain weight. You're going to be treated better in most social situations if you're good-looking than you would be treated if you weren't. That's the sad truth about the world we live in. 

The couple in this story is happy. He loves her, and she loves him, but his family thinks she could do better than him, and they're not shy about making that known, even if it hurts his feelings.

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • A couple who are offended by the cruel comments his family makes about his appearance compared to hers.
    via Adrian Appalsamy

    A couple who are offended by the cruel comments his family makes about his appearance compared to hers. 

    The individuals in this photo are models, and are not the real people in this story. 

  • My husband’s mom told him I’m way out of his league at dinner and his whole family agreed.

    1 25f married my 26m husband about 8 months ago and have been with him for almost 3 years. We went to dinner at his parent's house and while we were eating his mom suddenly went "I love you very much,
    via u/Shot_Imagination_564
  • but she (meaning me) is way out of your league." She said it so rudely and I could tell she really meant it. I was appalled, but my husband simply said ya you're right and the rest of the family nodded in agreement. I
    via u/Shot_Imagination_564
  • A family gathers for dinner, discussing in detail their son's appearance compared to his wife's, whom they find more attractive.
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    A family gathers for dinner, discussing in detail their son's appearance compared to his wife's, whom they find more attractive. 

    The image uses actors to depict the situation. 

  • told them I disagreed and that he was actually out of my league, but everyone laughed and brushed me off. My husband has been pretending it didn't bother him, but I can tell it did. He's
    via u/Shot_Imagination_564
  • already self conscious about his looks and it seems like this made it worse. I find him extremely attractive and really don't think I'm very attractive so if anything he's out of my league. This isn't the first time one of them has said
    via u/Shot_Imagination_564
  • something along these lines, but it is the first time it was said so blatantly. I don't want to stir drama in his family and he told me to drop it, but I still feel like I should do or say something. Should I? Or
    via u/Shot_Imagination_564
  • should I wait until it happens again and say something then? If I do say something what would I say to make them take me seriously without ruining the relationship with them?
    via u/Shot_Imagination_564
  • AccomplishedChart873 He doesn't want to talk about it more so I would just often, but very casually, remind him how attractive you find him. We often don't see ourselves the way our significant other sees us.
    via u/AccomplishedChart873
  • Shot_Imagination_564 OP Thank you this is great advice and is probably what I'll end up doing!
    via u/Shot_Imagination_564
  • MerakDubhe Bonus tip: make it specific. Not just "you're so attractive", but appreciate his features. His smile, his eyes, his hands, any part of him that you adore.
    via u/MerakDubhe
  • A man's eyes, which he would appreciate a compliment about from his partner, instead of a generic compliment.
    via Renaldo Kodra

    A man's eyes, which he would appreciate a compliment about from his partner, instead of a generic compliment. 

    The image is a representation depicted by a model. 

  • Plane_Arachnid6182 Ah parents, killing self esteem since the big bang
    via u/Plane_Arachnid6182
  • Relevant_Owl_3519 I'd wait until it happens again, but I wouldn't let it slide a second time. Something calm like: *"I'd appreciate it if we stopped making comments about who's 'out of whose league.' I married him because I love him, respect him, and I'm incredibly attracted to him. Jokes like that aren't funny, they just put him down, and I'd rather we not make those comments anymore."* It keeps the focus on how the comment affects your husband instead of attacking his family, which makes it mu
    via u/Relevant_Owl_3519
  • majestic7 "We are a perfect match actually"
    via u/majestic7
  • Voodoopulse My wife's out of my league as well. I think it's down to her eye sight issues.
    via u/Voodoopulse
  • lydocia That's a man who has been shon all his life and got used to it. It's heartbreaking. You can lay it out for him and express that he is fantastic and should never feel like he doesn't deserve you or the best in life. See marriage as your commitment to build him up and tell him every day. Don't even involve his family. As his self esteem grows, he will see it for himself. Encourage him to seek therapy once he realises it.
    via u/lydocia
  • Unable_To_Forward My dad has been telling my wife she is out of my league for 25 years. Usually followed up by telling my mom she is out of his league. Probably a non-malicious joke without further info.
    via u/Unable_To_Forward

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

daughter in law out of my league wife attractive husband dinner mother in law family ugly son
Scroll Down For The Next Article