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mrswinteriscoming
VIP December 2021

How do i communicate to my family that their expectations are too high?

mrswinteriscoming, on October 12, 2021 at 6:51 PM Posted in Family and Relationships 0 6

FH and I come from vastly different backgrounds - I come from a family that is all up in each others' business and we are loud and boisterous and spend lots and lots of time together whereas he grew up in a rural town with only his immediate family as there is family drama on his side / his relatives all live far away in different spots across the country.

I speak to my parents daily and we see each other at least once a week for casual get togethers (i.e. going to watch a movie with them) and I generally attend alone because its a bit overkill for FH - he is a bit of a fish out of water in his own family and he is unsettled by the notion of seeing my parents as frequently as I myself do. I totally respect his decision because I can appreciate that my "normal" is not his "normal" - of course he still sees them with me every now and then as well as on occasions (birthdays, holidays etc).

For me what irks me is my family - every single time I see them alone they make a point that FH didn't come with me. I keep explaining to them time after time that what is normal for them is not the same for others and that FH just can't deal with an oversaturation of family visits. From time to time my family will still keep at it and will say things like "but he is marrying into this family" and "he needs to step up and be a part of this family" and I am getting tired of the guilt trips. I would love FH to see my family more (and want to) but I can wholly understand his point of view and don't want to push him into something he is uncomfortable with, and which will undeniably cause friction in our relationship, all because my family think that this is how we should live.

How do I communicate to them that they need to put an end to this behaviour?

6 Comments

Latest activity by Eniale, on October 13, 2021 at 10:47 AM
  • M
    VIP January 2019
    Maggie ·
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    I don't really think you can. If they won't truly listen to what you are telling them and can't accept that their way is not the only way to family, then there's not really anything you can do to change their minds. Hopefully they will gradually accept that there are different ways of being in this world.

    Just keep your messaging consistent, being careful never to express to your family that you also wish your FS would join in more (it's fine that YOU feel this way, but if you share your feelings with them, they will never let up). Be positive and brief, and then change the subject whenever they bring it up.

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  • Samantha
    Expert December 2021
    Samantha ·
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    Step up and put your foot down. They're trying to make him act like someone he isn't and these guilt trips they're pulling on you are uncalled for. Make it clear that things are the way they are and they'll either have to accept it or see less of you. You're marrying into his family also and I'm sure they aren't pulling the stuff your family is to make you into someone you're not.
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  • Michelle
    Rockstar December 2022
    Michelle ·
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    Be firm and set and maintain boundaries with consequences. Get used to saying no now before the marriage starts so that you have practice in down the road when other life decisions pop up. While your fiancé is marrying into your lively social family, there needs to be a balance. If they are not willing to listen now and are pressuring you out of your comfort zones, then unfortunately there is nothing you can say or do to sway them outside of going no contact which is not an option in your case.
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  • Allie
    VIP November 2021
    Allie ·
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    Would you be comfortable with telling them if they don't knock it off you won't be coming around as much because you don't like the way they are guilt tripping you and trying to make him do something he's not comfortable doing? Sometimes that is what it takes.

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  • J
    January 1895
    Jessa ·
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    If a woman was on here saying the same thing about her fiancé's family, a lot of people would say he is too enmeshed with his family of origin. This causes healthy boundaries not to form. You have already expressed one. They keep complaining about his perfectly normal behavior even though you have repeatedly asked them not to. This is likely to be a problem in your marriage. What if he doesn't agree with your family seeing a newborn at the hospital. What if he doesn't want to spend every holiday with them? You really need to set some healthy boundaries with your family asap.

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  • E
    Super July 2023
    Eniale ·
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    You have a few options. One poster already mentioned one - tell them if they don't knock it off, they'll be seeing less of you, and mean it.

    My other suggestion:

    Stop responding to the behavior altogether. Literally stop. Don't explain. Don't even answer. Remember how people used to say, a good way to deal with bullies is to ignore them? Don't give them the satisfaction that their guilt-trips are working on you (because they are - that's why you keep answering to them, and why they think they're effective.)

    Try something like this:

    Family: Where is FH?
    You: He didn't come with me today.
    Family: He needs to step up and be a part of the family!
    You: The most hilarious thing happened to me at the office yesterday.....

    If they continue to push after the first redirect, just keep at it. Think before you go about a story you can tell, or something you can derail them with ("mom, what was that thing you were telling me about on the phone the other day?") This is effective for multiple reasons - it isn't giving their behavior the reinforcement they're looking for, and it puts them in the uncomfortable position of recognizing that you aren't putting up with it.

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