Ive been in a relationship with my girlfriend for two years now. Recently, I proposed to her and she happily agreed. Yet, I was puzzled by her reluctance to move in together before tying the knot.
She lived in the halls at her university, while I stayed with my parents in their three-bedroom flat in London. Ive always thought its sensible for a couple to live together before marriageits a good way to see if were truly compatible and to get used to each others habits. I mentioned this to my fiancée, but she dodged the conversation as if she didnt understand what I was getting at. Then, fortune seemed to favour us: my parents were off to Cornwall for a fortnight, leaving us with the flat to ourselves.
Determined to make the most of this opportunity, she tried her best to be the perfect housemate. She cooked delicious meals, kept the place spotless, and made sure everything was neat and tidy. Each day, she surprised me with treats and went out of her way to please me.
Everything would have been ideal, if not for one hiccup. I asked her to do the vacuuming, but she insisted that she wouldnt do womens work. She explained that in her family, men looked after financial matters, not household chores. I kept quiet, thinking things might change once we actually started living together.
By the time my parents returned, the flat was gleaming. She baked a cake, cooked dinner, and then headed back to her own place. I figured my mum would be impressed.
The next day, my girlfriend told me that mum wasnt happy with her. Apparently, mum thought she hadnt been a proper host. I was shocked. The first time my fiancée visited, the flat had been much messier than when she left it. Why the criticism? Mum even dismissed her baking and found the food unpleasant. My girlfriend was terribly offended.
Im beginning to suspect that mum simply doesnt want her son moving out, so shes being difficult. Perhaps there’s someone else she’d rather see me marry. Why do I think that? Well, since my parents returned, my fiancée has become distantwe rarely see each other or speak anymore. Honestly, I doubt there will even be a wedding.
I suppose the lesson here is that sometimes, family expectations carry more weight than we realise. No matter how hard you try, you can’t always win everyone over.
