"They’re snobs and very conservative and can’t believe I’m dating outside of the usual pool, which is basically boys I went to school with" (Image: Juanmonino/Getty) Get the latest entertainment news sent straight to your inbox with our weekly Showbiz newsletter More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Get the latest entertainment news sent straight to your inbox with our weekly Showbiz newsletter Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice Dear Coleen My boyfriend and I are graduating from university this summer. We’ve been dating since the end of our first year and are very happy and in love. We’re about to take a gap year, travelling and working our way around the world. My boyfriend has already secured a paid internship for when he gets back, which makes me very proud. The big fly in the ointment is my parents. Their attitude stinks to be honest. They’ve always made it obvious they don’t like him or, I should say, don’t like the idea of him because they’ve never even bothered to get to know him. Read More Related Articles Neighbours warned homes could explode after mystery petrol smell seeps into houses Read More Related Articles Lorraine Kelly hosts wedding in ITV studio as she celebrates same-sex marriage They’re snobs and very conservative and can’t believe I’m dating outside of the usual pool, which is basically boys I went to school with, other boys who went to the “right” sort of school, their friends’ boys and so on. Yes, even today that kind of attitude exists. They pretend they’re worried because my boyfriend has no money to fall back on. Well, he’s the one with a paid internship and has more intelligence and ambition than I’ll ever have. His only mistake seems to be coming from a perfectly lovely, normal family and going to a state comprehensive! While my family has been icy, my boyfriend’s family couldn’t have been nicer and more welcoming, so we spend holidays such as
Christmas and Easter with them, which I know annoys my mum. But even though I’m angry with my parents, I don’t want to fall out with them. And my boyfriend doesn’t want this either – he’s cool about it and just says they’ll come round. I’m struggling to see a way forward – can you help? Join the Daily Record
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Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile , select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Coleen says Your boyfriend sounds brilliant and how great that you’re about to go travelling before taking on careers and responsibilities. If you love this boy, then you need to make it clear to your parents that the relationship isn’t up for negotiation. Tell them how hurt and disappointed you are that they’ve never bothered to get to know him and find out what a great guy he is. If they want to see you at Christmas and Easter, they need to make some effort because he’ll be coming with you. It sounds as if they’re desperately trying to keep control, which is having the opposite effect and pushing you further away. It’s a classic mistake. Also, there doesn’t seem to be an actual reason for their concerns. Top news stories today Body bin killer due for jail release Pro-life group has only male executives Lorraine Kelly opens up on miscarriage Tot with race condition doesn't sleep If you believe that it really is down to a difference in backgrounds, then ask them to explain why this matters. It sounds like your boyfriend is handling it well but your parents need to be thinking sensibly and potentially long term here. What if the two of you stay together, get married or have children? How are they going to feel about how they’ve treated him then? Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow Daily Record
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