Parents Schmarents

Hello Sue my love!

It is late here. And I may have had a few too many drinks tonight, only to come home to see your post about the 'rents meeting.

And it got me thinking... once I finished cracking up - because seriously? A sushi party? That is BEYOND.

But first, let me explain about my somewhat inebriated state. Tonight was a big night for me and my fellow MBAs who are in my college here at uni. (How British do I sound?!) Basically, my MBA class (and everyone else here) are divided among small colleges that make up the university. And each college has its own matriculation ceremony to officially welcome each new student to the college and uni. And there was lots of alcohol. The end.

So anyway, I kind of can't even believe that you are having the fam all meet each other over that most hallowed of American holidays (if only because of the pie and booze), Thanksgiving. That is intense!

I, on the other hand, would never even fathom having my father meet The Lawyer's father. No no. They will not meet until our wedding day, and even then we will seat them as far away as possible. I mean, I love them both as individuals, but The Lawyer and I also know that they will detest each other... so we are not rushing into any kind of introduction any time soon.

Is that weird? Or is your situation weird? LADIES! We DomestiGals need your input! Have you ever introduced your parents to your significant other's parents? If so, how did it go? If not, why not? We need deets stat.

If only - speaking of stats - to distract me from my statistics exam studying...

Big love,

Jen 

Introducing the Parents...

Jen,

I think I finally stopped laughing over your big non-engagement ring "outing" your first day of business classes! Are you now known as "engagement ring Jen"? I'm sure there are 5-10 Jens in your program, so you clearly have some sort of descriptor going on before your name.

Ahem. Actually, while we were planning on getting Domestic Partnered in the post office, in the end we decided to be even *more* romantic and do it at the bank instead.

In response to your question re: my betrothed status, let's just say our parents aren't quite satisfied yet. Aside from that, anytime I refer to "My Partner, The Doctor," people either assume that a) I'm speaking about my business partner or b) I'm a lesbian.

Sigh.

But! BUT! The Doctor's family will be travelling from NYC to New England to visit my family this Thanksgiving and have their formal introductions.

Amazingly, I'm not nervous in the least. Mostly because of the following mathematical calculation (hello, you know how much we Asians love math).

Fabulous half-Asian family + Fabulous Jewish family = Super Fun Times.

Of course my wonderful Asian mum is already obsessing over all the following:

* "Where will The Doctor sleep?"

Mind you, because we're not married, my Asian mum typically puts us on SEPARATE FLOORS. Um, seriously. a) I'm almost 30 and b) We live together and c) We have been together for over 2 years and d) Mother, puh-lease! You're always embarrassing me!

* "What do Jewish people (read: non-Asian people) eat?"

Okay. As I have been dating Jewish guys since 1999, you think she would have a handle on this already, but she continues to obsess. This is the friendly exchange we had today:

Asian Mum: "Sue, what will The Doctor's family want to eat? No pork, right???!!"

Mean, Impatient Daughter: "Ma, I told you! They eat everything!"

Asian Mum: "What? Really? They eat pork?"

M.I.D.: "As The Doctor says, 'No one loves bacon as much as a Jew.' "

Asian Mum: "Bacon's too fatty. I don't want your father eating so much fat. His belly keeps getting bigger! He looks pregnant. Is The Doctor getting fat? Does he look pregnant? You both have to stop eating so much!"

M.I.D.: "Ma, stop being mean! I told you not to start making Fat Comments when we're home this time. Please, try not to tell The Doctor to "suck it in" while he's resting on the couch this time, okay? You're turning into your mother!"

Asian Mum: "I'm not being mean. Mummy loves you and The Doctor. Only Mummy will tell you the truth. Anyway, we're not having bacon. I want to have a make-your-own-sushi party."

I mean, obviously she does. We'll all just sit around in our lovely kimonos, eat sashimi with chopsticks in our hair, and occasionally get up to shuffle around the house with our little feet.

The meeting will obviously be a riot.

Love,

Fatso Sue