It’s always important to keep your parents happy with you. You do whatever it takes to get their approval because those are the two people in this world that you look up to more than anyone else. You get into a good college, get good grades, get great internships, meet great friends, and fall in love with a fantastic kid. They might not always agree with your college of choice but they usually come around. However, it’s a lot harder for parents to come around when you are falling in love with someone they hate.
The reason for this is that you could potentially spend the rest of your life with this person. He can change you and he could change the way others perceive you. You don’t want to have to hide your relationship or avoid all contact between him and your family. In the end, that will only force him to resent you and feel like he is constantly under pressure to get your parents approval. Who is that fair for? No one.
So what do you do?
1. Weigh the pros and cons
You could lose a relationship with your parents. These are two people who have been there for you no matter what. As much as you think your significant other loves you, he could leave you. Think about how much your family means to you and how their opinion has always mattered. It should matter now more than ever.
2. Talk to your parents
Find out why. Why don’t they like him, why don’t they want you to be with him, and what can he do to make this better. Tell them all the reasons why you love him because they don’t know the ins and outs of your relationship, only you two do! They only know what they can see from the outside.
3. Talk to him
“Never change for someone.” We have heard this since the first moment we had even the slightest crush on a boy. If you shouldn’t change for him, why should he have to change for your parents. There is a girl and her parents out there who will love him for him. Honesty is the best policy so don’t try to hide the fact that he isn’t your parents favorite person. If you love him, you’ll tell him and let him decide what is best for himself in the situation.
4. Never complain about him to your parents
As hard as it might be, don’t tell your mom when he upsets you. Keep it to yourself because that will just be another item on the “why he’s not right for you” list that your parents have been creating for some time now.
5. Break up
This is your last resort. When the awkwardness around your family is getting to be too much and when you feel like you are walking on eggshells, it has to be over. Why stay with someone that you can’t have a happy, open, genuine relationship with.
Be smart. Your parents are almost always right.