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I was always fascinated how my parents marriage worked out for so long when they were complete opposites.
My father is Swiss German. Very, very strict, can be ruthless when it comes to other people's shortcomings, he's very organised and serious. He loves silence and books (we were told not to make any noise close to his library) and he's generally a very reserved person. I remember he would go horse riding on his own during weekend afternoons.
My mother is Italian. Loud, joyful, does a million things at the same time, cooks for 10 people even if it's just two for dinner, she's very emotional and cries easily, she was much relaxed when it came to rules and school. She loves having all the family together (I've like 40 cousins on her side of the family), everyone speaking at the same time, etc.
I'm still amazed how well they seemed to get along, though. My mother was the only one who could say if he was stressed or upset (he always looked the same to me) and the only one who could convince him to change his mind when it came to his strictness. He was the only one who could bring her back to reality when she got too excited and the only one who could reassure her when she was crying.
They separated two years ago after 41 years of marriage after my father told her he wanted to start a relationship with a younger woman and have more freedom. Even though they separated amicably, my mother never accepted being switched for another woman.
She asked him to please stay married to her because she married for life. He gave in at first but has recently told her they will eventually have to divorce.
Do you know any relationship between such different people?
Location: RI, MA, VT, WI, IL, CA, IN (that one sucked), KY
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Oh yes, my first girlfriend's mom was a Brit, quite and reserved, knit and watched Dr Who and Red Dwarf (not sure if that is the correct name), her dad was a U.S. Navy boxer, loud and overbearing, went into advertising. Just loud and abrasive and intimidating. Very much in love, married more than forty five years now.
Oh yes, my first girlfriend's mom was a Brit, quite and reserved, knit and watched Dr Who and Red Dwarf (not sure if that is the correct name), her dad was a U.S. Navy boxer, loud and overbearing, went into advertising. Just loud and abrasive and intimidating. Very much in love, married more than forty five years now.
I was always fascinated how my parents marriage worked out for so long when they were complete opposites.
My father is Swiss German. Very, very strict, can be ruthless when it comes to other people's shortcomings, he's very organised and serious. He loves silence and books (we were told not to make any noise close to his library) and he's generally a very reserved person. I remember he would go horse riding on his own during weekend afternoons.
My mother is Italian. Loud, joyful, does a million things at the same time, cooks for 10 people even if it's just two for dinner, she's very emotional and cries easily, she was much relaxed when it came to rules and school. She loves having all the family together (I've like 40 cousins on her side of the family), everyone speaking at the same time, etc.
I'm still amazed how well they seemed to get along, though. My mother was the only one who could say if he was stressed or upset (he always looked the same to me) and the only one who could convince him to change his mind when it came to his strictness. He was the only one who could bring her back to reality when she got too excited and the only one who could reassure her when she was crying.
They separated two years ago after 41 years of marriage after my father told her he wanted to start a relationship with a younger woman and have more freedom. Even though they separated amicably, my mother never accepted being switched for another woman.
She asked him to please stay married to her because she married for life. He gave in at first but has recently told her they will eventually have to divorce.
Do you know any relationship between such different people?
Why is it sad? Compared to most separations I've seen, theirs was heaven. In the first few months my mother was even worried if he was eating all right.
I think when couples learn and practice the most important word of any relationship then it tends to work out. That word, of course, is COMPROMISE.
I'm sure they had to compromise in plenty of things, like spending Christmas in Italy, with my father amidst all that noise and kissing.
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