It's Time To Shock My Parents
My parents live in Phoenix, and for about a year I have lived in Yuma. A couple times my mom and dad have driven down to Yuma and stayed at the Comfort Inn not far from my condo. I generally try to visit them in Phoenix every six weeks or so. I call them about twice a week. I would like to email them too but neither of my parents regularly checks their email inbox. Anyway, even though I’m no longer living in Phoenix, they pretty much know what I’m up to, most of the time. They know I have a boyfriend named Steve. But there is one thing they do not know and I think it is time I tell them. It is time to tell my parents that Steve is, in fact, 52 years old, 25 years older than I am. Yes, I think the time has come to inform my parents that their only daughter has been dating a guy who is only four years younger than my father, and two years older than my mother. To be completely honest, that last sentence kind of creeps me out, I’m not sure what it will do to my mother and father.
I think my mother will be initially traumatized when learning of Steve’s age. She will probably be able to regain her voice after a minute or so, but at first she will be literally speechless. Then she will say, probably with some difficulty, that she would be pleased to meet this man. She will not say anything against him. I’m certain that I will not be criticized. But my mother will not at first be totally okay with it, and may never be 100% pleased, but she will not be judgmental.
As for my father, well, that depends on if I first tell my mother. If my mother is the first to learn of Steve’s age, then she will subsequently direct my father on how to respond, specifically, respond to me. That’s how the pair operates, I ought to know. I can almost hear my mother saying to my dad, “It is Katie’s choice, and not ours. If she likes this man, then we should like him too.” I swear I can hear my mom’s voice uttering those very words.
If I were to tell my father first, then it is hard to say how he would react. He understandably wants the best for his daughter. The trouble is; what he thinks is the best for me is beyond reproach, even beyond my reproach. Obviously I will make sure that my mother is the first to learn the details of my gentleman.
Someday in the not too distant future the three of them will meet. I’ve tried to imagine that get-together. The notion is more weird than scary. Steve is four years younger than my father, but he seems more like 10 or 15 years the younger. My dad has a sense of humor, but Steve can be downright zany. He has a youthful sense of humor. Steve is generally both more open-minded, and more energetic than is my father, not surprising given that Steve is in a relationship with a woman almost half his age. My father is pretty much old school. Dad watches football and cop shows. He prefers pork chops to Asian cuisine. He drinks beer, not wine.
As for my mother, I’m not sure how well she would take to Steve. Mom might be too worried about Steve’s age and how it could potentially affect my well-being, and be unable to see that Steve really is an amicable man who actually cares for her daughter.
Anyway, I’ve kind of made-up my mind that this evening I’m going to call my parents and gently inform them of a few of the vital statistics concerning their little girl’s gentleman companion, a 52 year-old gentleman companion. Wish me luck.
I think my mother will be initially traumatized when learning of Steve’s age. She will probably be able to regain her voice after a minute or so, but at first she will be literally speechless. Then she will say, probably with some difficulty, that she would be pleased to meet this man. She will not say anything against him. I’m certain that I will not be criticized. But my mother will not at first be totally okay with it, and may never be 100% pleased, but she will not be judgmental.
As for my father, well, that depends on if I first tell my mother. If my mother is the first to learn of Steve’s age, then she will subsequently direct my father on how to respond, specifically, respond to me. That’s how the pair operates, I ought to know. I can almost hear my mother saying to my dad, “It is Katie’s choice, and not ours. If she likes this man, then we should like him too.” I swear I can hear my mom’s voice uttering those very words.
If I were to tell my father first, then it is hard to say how he would react. He understandably wants the best for his daughter. The trouble is; what he thinks is the best for me is beyond reproach, even beyond my reproach. Obviously I will make sure that my mother is the first to learn the details of my gentleman.
Someday in the not too distant future the three of them will meet. I’ve tried to imagine that get-together. The notion is more weird than scary. Steve is four years younger than my father, but he seems more like 10 or 15 years the younger. My dad has a sense of humor, but Steve can be downright zany. He has a youthful sense of humor. Steve is generally both more open-minded, and more energetic than is my father, not surprising given that Steve is in a relationship with a woman almost half his age. My father is pretty much old school. Dad watches football and cop shows. He prefers pork chops to Asian cuisine. He drinks beer, not wine.
As for my mother, I’m not sure how well she would take to Steve. Mom might be too worried about Steve’s age and how it could potentially affect my well-being, and be unable to see that Steve really is an amicable man who actually cares for her daughter.
Anyway, I’ve kind of made-up my mind that this evening I’m going to call my parents and gently inform them of a few of the vital statistics concerning their little girl’s gentleman companion, a 52 year-old gentleman companion. Wish me luck.
Total Comments 4
Comments
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Well...how did it go?
Posted 11-29-2012 at 09:30 AM by KenFL
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Pretty much as expected. My mother saying that "I'm sure he is a very nice man", and my father being heard only once, in the background, barking out a "tell me you're kidding," to my mother when she informs him of Steve's age. My guess is that my mother tried to cover up the phone with her hand so I would not hear my father's comment, but she wasn't quick enough. My father actually is fairly open-minded. He is in favor of gay marriage, and a few things like that. But his "little girl" is a different matter.Quote:Originally Posted by KenFL
Well...how did it go?Posted 11-29-2012 at 10:35 PM by KatieGal
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I am sure that their main concern is your happiness and well-being. I had an uncle that had a 'wild/weird' wife and I always heard my mother say that if he can live with her, we can live around her...
Perhaps they each have a vision of an ideal partner for you, however they know that they raised a good person that has the ability to make good decisions, therefore they will accept them.
I am also sure that your parents can 'see' happiness in your voice and such, after all, happiness is like wetting your pants, everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth! (I hope that wasn't too over the top...)
My ex-wife was 18 years younger than I was and lived in another country which added a bit of complications. (I am somewhat ashamed to say that she was 18 and I was 36 when we were married. Although quite an interesting story, I will reserve the details...)
I enjoy reading and absorbing your thoughts! You do have a talent for conveying your thoughts to others.
Thanks for sharing!
Ken
Edit: As I reread this, I realized that it could be interpreted different than my thoughts!
The reference to my Uncle's wife was meaning to convey that if you love someone, you will accept them as they are, and respect their decisions... (I always rush and hate to type!
I am a talker, not a typer!) Posted 11-30-2012 at 10:56 AM by KenFL
Updated 11-30-2012 at 01:23 PM by KenFL -
вы все здесь из америки?Posted 03-05-2013 at 05:11 AM by анастасия
