Recently, I've been going out with this amazing human being. We connect on so many levels, I tell him all there is to know of me and I respect his values. He makes me feel over the top and I could not have ask for any else to be my favourite person in the world. I love him. We're both from the same ethinicity, we both share very similiar cultural aspects and we appreciate it the fact that we can both relate to one another so easily. That being said, his parents...specifically his mom is extremely traditional. She is moreso on the "past", she doesn't approve of the idea of him having a girlfriend. He could definitely tell her about me, but I would have to deal with the consequences of not having enough time or privacy with him if I ever come over or if we go on dates. To her, I'm just his friend. We're both adults, capable of making our own life choices. My family, although of the same culture, support my choices on who I love and date. They love him. They appreciate how happy he makes me. I just wish his mom would feel the same towards me. In a sense, I believe she doesn't like me based on the fact that a long time ago, there were rumors spread negatively of my family with our ethinicty community. Therefore, his mom associates that negativity with me. But all this happened way before I was even born into this world. I don't even know what happened! I am my own person, I don't associate myself with whatever drama or rumor that my extended experienced. Therefore, I feel as though I am wrongly judged by his mom. I feel as though it is unfair. I understand how she wants the best for her son, she loves him and that's her baby. She's scared of the negative outlook spread upon to her son with me in his life. However, it's unfair to make assumptions about me when she doesn't even know who I really am and how I live my life. I am a 3rd year university student studying respiratory medicine, I respect my cultural and family values, I work a part time job, I don't associate myself with the wrong crowds and I know who I love and what I love. I don't believe I need to prove myself to anyone, but for him, for his mom I feel like I have too. I don't want to imagine a conflicting future with him if his mom becomes a factor. I love him, but I now have my guard up with him because I am scared he will be subjective to his family and I will be the one hurt in the end. I don't want to be stepped over by anyone, I love him and I want there to be zero barriers around our relationship.