Question:
Girlfriend Might Have Parental Dependency Problems?
2010-02-07 03:04:24 UTC
Me and my girlfriend were discussing the future when we would live together and I was shocked when I realized what she expected. She wanted to live near her mom. Okay, That's fine. No Problem. But her dad lives in the Bronx and she wants to go to see him every weekend and I don't mean like go pop in and say hi. I mean like go Friday night and come back late Sunday night. And everyday after work she would go over to her moms. I'm almost 23 and she's 20. The projected time would be a few years from now. I was really taken back by that and red flags went up and I have learned to listen to these flags, go with my heart, and not try to drown them out. Anyway, I asked her when we would have any time together. We're trying to plan out our life and I'm not liking this one bit. It isn't how I had things in mind. Mind you, I understand life doesn't always work out how you planned it to but you do try to plan it out. I told her I won't take her from her family but two people in a relationship are supposed to be life partners. I told her I felt like I'd never be able to have her fully. We'd come home from work during the week exhausted and she'd go over to her moms, maybe later we'd watch some tv together and then on the weekend she goes to her dads. I said, "well maybe that's not so bad, I could always do some traveling on the weekends cause I like to travel, although I'd rather travel WITH you, or I can try finding local activities to do". Then she tells me she doesn't like that cause she thinks I'll find somebody else. And I'm like, "well babe, what do ya want, I'm supposed to just sit at home twiddling my thumbs?". I won't cheat and that's not the subject at hand so please, no side input on that. But it's like she doesn't understand how that makes me feel. I explained it to her in the reverse and said what if she lived with me right next door to my moms and I was always over there and vise versa and then on the weekends I leave her there alone and go far away to spend the weekend with my dad. "Wouldn't you feel kinda sad and lonely?", I asked. She still sleeps with her mom in her bed as of current. I try not to judge and I just thought it was kind of cute and I would sleep in her room since it is vacant but I'm really beginning to think she is really psychologically dependent, if that's the right term, on her parents. Kinda like the little kid not wanting to let go of the blanket or the baby birds not wanting to leave the nest. We came to kind of a dead stop with the IMs as it became apparent that we had 2 very opposite ideas of how we pictured our lives. She told me that she can't change that she's close to her family and I told her that I won't ask her to change that. I'm not a bad guy and I'm not controlling or anything but I wanna be in a relationship, not have 1/3 custody. I told her it would be like I'm a roommate and the thought of that made me really sad. An adult is supposed to live their life and not be stuck in the nest. Certain animals and my mother have been known to get a little aggressive and make friction to get their young to move on and mature. I kind of feel like if I was even a parent that I would feel guilty having my kid feel like they needed to see me every weekend. Give me a call, we'll do lunch sometime, go on and live your life, I'd say. Am I wrong in thinking this? I mean, how many people have a nice healthy relationship where you NEVER SEE EACH OTHER?
Five answers:
Flamenco Jo
2010-02-07 05:15:31 UTC
I'm sorry but it does sound like she likes her life exactly the way it is at the moment. Are you sure she wants to move out let alone get married?



If she seriously does want to move out and get married then I guess it depends on what you are willing to accept but imo going to see mum every day (unless you're not working) and then spending every weekend with your father as well is too much. Perhaps you could consider asking her to see her mother about twice a week, her father every other weekend and then telephone them the rest of the time. Perhaps she could go and see her mum when you go out with the lads? Marriage, even a relationship, is about give and take and if she isn't willing to do this then I would certainly reconsider marrying her at the moment. What would happen if you had children? Would it be you and your g/f who looked after your child or would it be your g/f and her parents?



No need to finish the relationship...just wait a bit longer until she decides to give and take.
2014-08-14 04:09:26 UTC
Your girlfriend is very young (as are you). I don't think she has dependency problems at all! I think she's in a perfectly normal stage of her life developmentally speaking. Many people at twenty are still very close to their parents and want to spend a lot of time with them. Other people just aren't that adventurous and she might be one of them- travel doesn't appeal to her, familiarity and comfort does.



Stop trying to psycho-analyze your girlfriend and just decide whether or not she's a good fit for YOU. Clearly, she's a home body and a creature of comfort, maybe a little bit more introverted. You like change and excitement. You want to travel and see places. You're highly extroverted and also very young, I might add. Stop trying to rush your life.



I'm 27. I lived in my parents' house until I was 24 because that's what was expected of me in my family. Then, I moved to San Diego and came back after two years because I was seeking familiarity. I still do a ton of traveling but whenever my boyfriend and I don't have SOMETHING on OUR RADAR, we spend the entire weekend at my parents' house crashing on the couch, eating their food, and seeing my old friends from high school because I am close to all these people and I miss seeing them. My boyfriend is 30, btw. He sees NOTHING wrong with this. If he thought I was co-dependent, I'd laugh at him and feel probably feel even a little insulted.
мιℓℓιє♥ On Interrail Now♥
2010-02-07 03:32:57 UTC
I understand this situation must be very difficult for you, and it would be hard to have a relationship if she continued like this. But I doubt it would continue. Perhaps this is the first time she has moved away form home? If she's used to being with her family a lot and seeing them often, it might be scary for her to think of "leaving" life as she knows it to move in with you.



In all I think it comes down to the fact that she is scared and not ready to separate herself from her parents. I think that it would probably get better after some time.



You should try to be understanding, but show her that she can live her own life, and see her parent once a week? Maybe you could try to take her on a holiday, just the two of you, to show how nice it could be being by yourself. :)
andieoh3
2010-02-07 03:09:44 UTC
She is not ready for a relationship much less marriage. I suggest you check back on her when she grows up.



If it's this bad now wait til you have children...
Man
2010-02-07 03:09:30 UTC
most women behave the same way


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