How did you tell the family... what reaction did you get??

[psiprez 3]

Ah yes... telling the family... the unpoken first step in the process!!!

His family knows all about me, accepts me, loves me and can't wait to send him packing off to the US. My family has no idea about our relationship yet. Or that we met online. Or that I will be flying off in March to meet him for the first time (and that they will be watching my kids while I'm gone. hehe). After feeling them out, I know my dad is convinced anyone you meet online only sees green. GRRRRRR...

So, how did you break the news of your overseas romance, and your intent to be together?

What reaction did you get?

Any online issues involved?

Or concerns over how quickly the whole romance was happening?

Or worse?

<3 Karen

[Caladan 19]

My parents aren't accepting, and that was with three years of dating, flying back and forth every three months, and without a divorce.

So, uh, good luck!

[rebeccajo 14]

Karen did you mean you are flying off to meet your fiance's FAMILY for the first time? Or him?

It makes a world of difference on both sides of the pond as to what family and friends think after everybody has met.

[ya falaha! 0]

My parents think I've lost it

[Kez/JWolf 6]

I find it hard to understand how anyone could meet someone online or off line and intend to get married but they have never discussed it with their family...

What will you do if your family do not wish to look after your children while you go to the UK to meet your future in-laws?

I wish you the best but think you should not leave it any longer to tell them about your plans... as you are looking to them for their help and support it would not be very fair to just spring it on them at the last min..

Good Luck

Kez

[Jasman0717 8]

My family was very supportive. Actually, I think they like her best

[MrsBruce5 0]

Hi-

We were solid friends for a few years before any romance or meeting. It seemed like everyone else knew it was going to happen before we did ! Almost all of our friends, and family-on both sides of the Atlantic were very happy that both of us finally got together. It was no secret that neither of us had much luck in finding happiness in our past relationships. Needless to say, we've had a lot of support.

The only one who didn't give our relationship any support was my own mother. She's never seen him, met him, or even spoken with him. She's had prejudice in her heart from day one. She's led a very sheltered life, and seems to believe that all people in the UK (Scots in particular) and all alcoholics, and love to fight. I think Mom's been watching too much TV.

It used to bother me, but I stopped caring last year, and just got on with it. I gave up on selling his merits to her and I am much happier for accepting that there are some things will never be.

Rose

[chri'stina 190]

My family was supportive. They said they trust my judgement and if I thought it was something good, they would support it. I am blessed it went that way because many, including my hubby,had a much more difficult time with the family accepting it.

[brnidokiegurl 0]

Mine might be some different, i own my own home self sufficient,dont be surprised if your parents want no part of it, not somehing to just break on them without some warning or background.

[Savanphil 3]

My parents were not supportive, they did not even want me to go visit him. A lot of it had to do with my traveling alone. But also a big thing was that they had never met him.....and they were not pleased with the fact of me marrying a complete stranger (to them).

But anyways it all worked out good in the end, and they accept him and like him more than any others, they even threw us a Shower, when he came home

[Ladylethal 12]

I went in order. Mom always knew I talked to people from all over the world, 'cus I participate in forums and such. She knew about some girls I knew from US and England and Trinidad and Tobago, whom actually called me more than once. So when I met Luis it was only normal for me to say "hey, now I know someone in Puerto Rico" and with months passing mom would sometimes ask who I was talking to this time "Ah, it's Luis". So when he said he'd come to Brazil to meet me I told mom "hey, guess what, Luis wants to come to Brazil". I guess she didn't believe it at first but when he did come she sent my brother with me to escort us as she was scared, of course, only natural. After we all saw he was a nice kid I was free to be his travel guide and take him to see Rio's touristic places, and then took him to meet my mom and all that. She liked him and after that trip I told her we'd started dating.

Of course everyone thought it was a fling, and that it'd pass and we'd end up stop talking but then he kept going back to Brazil and mom really likes him and was happy when we said we were getting engaged. My brothers like him too. As do my friends.

EDIT: He on the other hand never told his parents up until he was in Brazil and called them to say he was fine and had someone to show him places and translate for him. Then he showed pictures, then he said he knew me online (after he got back) and almost 3 years later I came to Puerto Rico for the first time to meet his parents, although I had talked to his mom on the phone before that.

Edited December 20, 2006 by Luis&Laura

[Jenn! 918]

We didn't meet online, but I think there's potential for family to have problems with any international/intercultural/interfaith relationships.

My mom and dad both got to meet my husband well before we had even discussed marriage or immigration. I think that made "breaking the news" a lot easier. My mom had some concerns about the cultural and religious aspects of our relationship, but she was mostly making sure that I had thought things through and was aware of the potential obstacles that we might face as a couple. All in all, my family has been very supportive throughout the entire process.

[doodlebug 3]

I was disowned. Oh well.

[mybackpages 0]

I was disowned. Oh well.

Don't worry Doodle. We still love you.

Families and friends often have a funny way of reacting, but usuallly its about the baggage they are carrying around and so they are looking at it through their own eyes and experiences. Hopefully with time everyone comes around. Good Luck!

[Reynaldo 0]

In our case, Alex was here in Brazil living with me and my family already new that something like that could happen.

But her family wasn't really aware of anything (they didn't even know she was living with me) and then her brother (14 yr old) told his mother that we were going to get married, jokingly of course.

And then her mom told her that story and Alex said: "Well, you see... About that..."

I think it was a good way to tell the news.