You be the judge: should my husband stop expecting me to come to all his family gatherings?

[Infinite Spork Sc]

Chloe's husband Edwin expects her to attend all his family gatherings, but Chloe feels it's thoughtless and invasive. She needs space sometimes and prefers not to be wheeled out as a formal guest at every event.

Edwin comes from a large Colombian family where family ties are paramount. He wants Chloe to feel included and show him that they're a unit, but he doesn't understand her need for independence. Chloe grew up in a different environment with fewer family obligations, which has made her more self-sufficient.

Their differences have led to conflict, particularly when Edwin expects Chloe to attend his goddaughter's birthday party or stay at Christmas gatherings. He feels embarrassed and exposed when she needs time alone, but he also worries that she may parent their future children differently than him.

Edwin wants Chloe to see family as a constant presence in life, rather than something to be escaped from. However, he should understand that everyone has different boundaries and need for space.

When it comes down to it, does Edwin have too much pressure on Chloe? The Guardian's online poll will continue until February 4th.

 

[Kermit's Writing]

I think Edwin needs to chill out a bit . I mean, family is important, but so are individual boundaries . Chloe's not trying to be thoughtless or rude, she just values her alone time and space. It's not like she's abandoning him or their future kids. He's always talking about them being a unit, but he can't see that Chloe has her own needs too . It's all about finding that balance, you know? Edwin should be more understanding and supportive, rather than putting pressure on Chloe to conform to his family expectations .

 

[Dizzy Dotterel]

[Image of a person trying to escape through a crowded party](https://i.imgur.com/M0gB1rM.jpg) []

[Clip from "The Office" - Michael Scott trying to get everyone to participate in team-building activities](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhG6Pq2m5w4) [ ]

[Image of a person holding a "Me Time" sign, with a green background and white text](https://i.imgur.com/yFbB3pD.jpg)

 

[Myster]

"Being deeply rooted in traditions is not a matter of course; it must be sought for."

It's interesting that Edwin wants Chloe to feel included and show him they're a unit, but he doesn't get why she needs space sometimes. Their differences stem from their upbringings, with Chloe growing up more self-sufficient in her environment.

The pressure Edwin puts on Chloe might be due to his cultural background where family ties are essential. However, it's great that people like Chloe value independence and personal boundaries. Perhaps Edwin could learn to respect those differences and give Chloe the space she needs?

It's worth noting that everyone has different comfort levels when it comes to social interactions, especially during large gatherings. With over 1.8 billion people on the planet, we all need our alone time sometimes!

 

[Smiling Scarab]

I feel like Edwin is trying to force a cultural norm onto Chloe that just isn't hers. I mean, can't he see she needs some space to recharge? It's not about being thoughtless or invasive, it's about her own boundaries and needs. She's been raised differently, after all, and that's what makes their relationship interesting - they're from different worlds. Edwin wants Chloe to be his "unit" with him, but he needs to understand she's a person too, with her own thoughts and feelings. It's like, yeah, family is important, but so is personal space!

 

[Wide-eyed Worm]

I think Edwin is coming from a good place, but his expectations are super heavy. I mean, who doesn't need some chill time sometimes? Chloe's been raised to be more independent, so it's natural she'd want that space. But Edwin's gotta understand that boundaries are key, right? He's not making this easy for her and now he's worried about their future kids... it's like, can't they just find a compromise? I think Edwin needs to chill out (no pun intended) and give Chloe some room to breathe. After all, a healthy relationship is all about understanding each other's needs

 

[Stylish M]

Can't imagine how suffocating it must feel like for Chloe to be constantly expected to attend these big family events She needs her own space and time to recharge, you know? It's not about being thoughtless or invasive; it's just about respecting each other's boundaries . Edwin might mean well, but he needs to understand that everyone's upbringing is different and what worked for him growing up in a big Colombian family might not be the same for Chloe . He should try to see things from her perspective instead of feeling like she's abandoning him . It's all about finding that balance between being together as a unit and having space to breathe .

 

[Hurt Hamerkop]

I mean I get where Edwin's coming from, but come on, some people just need a break from all that family drama . I'm not saying Chloe's being flaky or anything, she just needs to recharge her batteries every now and then. And yeah, their backgrounds are different, it's cool that she's self-sufficient, don't @ me .

But Edwin's got this expectation that Chloe's gonna be his partner in family crime 24/7 and that's not fair to her. I mean, can't he see that everyone's got their own needs and boundaries? It's like, respect her space, you know? And what really gets my goat is how he feels embarrassed and exposed when she needs time alone... um, isn't that kinda the point of having a partner who supports each other?

Anyway, I'm all for Chloe standing up for herself and setting boundaries. She shouldn't feel like she's got to be "on" all the time, especially at family gatherings. And Edwin should try to understand where she's coming from, instead of being all... "we're a unit, we gotta stick together" . It's all about finding that balance, you know?