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Our Founding/Fault-Finding
Fathers
Dear Breakup Girl,
I've been going out with the same guy for about nine months....including the
time we weren't actually "going out," just messing around/while I was
"cheating" on my long-distance love, and so much has happened since I
met him that I don't know what to think or do or anything.
I care deeply about him, I love him, blah blah blah...but my parents hate
him and want me to dump him and have for a while now. I can't even talk to him
on the phone without them turning it into a huge issue involving lectures and
comparisons to various evil figures in history. My Dad insists he's seen a
pattern in many men, and that my guy is in the early stages of what is likely
to become an abusive relationship.
My guy is mean to me sometimes, but we've been getting along better lately,
even though I sometimes want to kill him....see, I'm lost! He's so cute and I
laughed my butt off at your comment, "I never want to see you
again...unless you're wearing those jeans," because that is SO true about
how I feel sometimes. I've broken up with him before, tried to other times, and
he starts to cry and whine and make me feel awful. I hate that!
So, I guess my question is, should I break up with him, how can I do it
without being mean, and what the hell am I supposed to do since I still love
him? And his clothes...I don't want to give them back! Okay, that's all, I
suppose...please help!
-- Vera
Dear Vera,
Granted, parents are not always fully clued in. The proper use of
"phat" and "def," for instance, is something they're not
likely to master (and frankly, it's just as well).
But in your case, well, Breakup Girl hates to say it, but "your father
is not being unreasonable." I mean, if he had said, "Young lady,
you're not dating until you're 35!" then we'd have ourselves a problem
(or, at least, a situation akin to Breakup Girl's, without the part where the
father actually says it).
But look, you said yourself that this guy is "mean" to you. And
"mean" even "sometimes" is never okay with Breakup
Girl. The only time anyone is ever allowed to be mean to their
boy/girlfriend is if he/she messed up and taped "JAG" instead of Part
2 of the Buffy 2-parter, and even then they have to apologize within five
minutes, because all of their friends taped it anyway. He's mean to you and
you're worried about being mean to him if/when you break up? Eeeuw. BG does not
like the sound of that.
So don't dis your parents just because they're your parents. Talk to your
dad (putting your hand over the receiver and yelling, "Da-ad! I'm on the
PHONE!" does not count). Find out what he means. What are his concerns?
What is this "pattern?" What does he mean, "abusive?" If
you want to make a decision about your situation as an adult, then discuss it
with your parents as an adult.
Oh, and if you do break up and he wants his clothes back, you need to return
them. I don't care how "dope" they are, young lady.
Love,
Breakup Girl
P.S. People, don't think Breakup Girl doesn't notice euphemistic little
tricks of notation. (see Vera, paragraph 1). Cheating and "cheating"
are the same.
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