Son dating Protestant Girl (Long)

  • Thread starter Thread starter BamaRider
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Thanks for the all the advice.

In looking back at this, and given the relationship my son and I have, it was unfortunate I did not have the conversation with him on what happens when you get serious with a young lady from a totally different background. We honestly thought this girl was like all the rest. Next thing we know he brings her home sayin they want to get married?? Hello?? I don’t even know HER last name! So YES, I scolded him. In the 6 months he had been seeing her, we met her 2x (breifly)

Yet to meet any of her family. They are scattered up and down the East Coast. My son has only met her father. He doesn’t talk about him LOL.

It was my view I could not to sugar coat the obstacles that would have to be overcome. I was not gonna tell him, “just do what ya want, worry about it later.” I only told him the Church has rules concerning marriage, they expect them to be followed, now don’t be mad at ME, I’m just the messenger." Followed by “you need to know her better, where she comes from, her ideas on life etc”

He has done that, and he has aplogized for ambushing me. He knows he is MY son. Did my vote of no support cause a rift in the beginning? Yes, we did not speak for 3 weeks, that ain’t NEVER happened. It was unfortunate it took that to get here, but things are good now.

In fact I told my son today via a phone conversation to work this out on his own. My advice, after pondering this the last few months was “weigh all the things that must be dealt with in this relationship, Faith, goals, family attitudes, and pray about it. You will get your answers, but it may not be what ya wanna hear.” “Whaday mean?” “Look here son, God is gonna let ya do whatever it is ya wanna do, he ain’t gonna make ya listen to him, but there will be consequences if ya don’t” “Like what?” “Heck I dunno brother, but anytime I didn’t listen I was headin back to find out what to do to getta outta the mess I was in.” 😊

I’m sure this is weighing heavy on him. I know he loves this girl. I know how we raised him, he has never waivered from his Catholic Faith, I told his mother it will win out in the end. If she is going to be a obstacle in his Faith, he WILL let her go. He has said it not so many words, but he has hinted it.

Contrary to what some of y’all prolly think, I would not be happy if he has to let this girl go, because it will make him sad, and it will be me that will take the call, when the deed is done, to help pick up the pieces. Far as I know, this is his first serious relationship since reaching maturity.

My advice to others with kids coming up? If they get involved in a mixed situation, find out early if that is going to be a problem. Be honest and open, it could save alot of pain on the other side.
 
…“I have a plan. I want to ease her into this, and let her see how important this is to ME, and not YOU, so let me take care of it. We are still a long way off from setting any dates, 1, because of my new job, and 2, the dust needs to settle on this, but you were correct I needed to take a breath.”
You have expressed your beliefs and concerns. Your son has listened, heard you, acknowledged your position and is trying to find a way to integrate his love for this woman with the difference in their faith backgrounds. He is being measured, deliberate, receptive and very mature and seemingly not the least bit defensive or hostile to the issues you have raised. What more could you need from the rest of us?

Step back, be still and let your son be the man you raised him to be and handle his own life. He and this young woman must chose and embrace a faith for themselves–this is not something you can do for or impose upon them. These are decisions and values that must be freely chosen and shared, not something that they can be coerced into following simply because the rest of the family does it a certain way or follows a particular tradition. There is only so far we can guide our children…the rest of the journey is theirs to complete independently (including how they will educate and where they will worship with their own children–you simply **don’t **get a vote on that one no matter how strong your feelings are.)
 
If your son was a strong Catholic, he wouldn’t be dating nonCatholic women.

I would be very hurt and concerned if my child was considering marriage to a nonCatholic.
Good grief! You truly need to do some major fasting and praying if you can make such statements and consider yourself genuinely Catholic.
 
It sounds like your problem is less with her religion than your fear that because she’s not close to her family, she will encourage your son to pull away away from you.

I would be more worried about pushing him away by trying to influence his decision here. Your son is a successful 28 year old and he still calls you every day and is close to you. Of course when he gets married (whether to her or someone else), he won’t have as much time for you as he will have his own children to worry about. But that is only natural.
 
Look at the dates on this. Someone bumped this (troll?). The OP doesn’t even post here anymore.

Nothing to see…move on.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top