Reason I Love Tyler #18

Tyler Gets Along With My Family

I first introduced Tyler to my parents back in October of last year. Due to our schedules--all of our schedules--it was inconvenient and so it kept being put off. However, my Aunt Susan was getting married on Halloween and I invited Tyler to the overnight festivities. My parents were going to be there. They were going to be at the same wedding where their only daughter would be sharing a room and a bed with her boyfriend, whom they had never met before. That had to change and fast.

I didn't have any worries. Tyler is a personable, charming guy and he would come off well to anyone. He's just that type of person. However, my parents are...unique. My father is your typical "no-one-is-good-enough-for-my-daughter" dad and my mother watches so much Dateline and 20/20 that she thinks the majority of men just want to sell me into white slavery. So I was anxious, not worried.

Also, I had never introduced a boyfriend to my parents before, so there was no precedent of how they would react or what kinds of questions they would rain down on him. But they were kind and Tyler held his own. Everything went off without a hitch. Once my mom realized Tyler wasn't a serial killer, she was sold. I've always known my dad would prefer that I be with someone with the same exact interests as him so he could have "the son he never had" at long last. But that wasn't going to happen. Tyler and my dad have enough common ground to make for family unity.

Tyler had seen my parents exactly three times before he proposed. Since then, we have seen them two more times. My dad said he wants me to be happy and safe and he thinks I will be with Tyler. If that's all he cares about, then he should have absolutely no worries.

As for my extended family, Tyler met most of my dad's side at Aunt Susan's wedding--redneck cousins, pothead cousins, felon cousins, thrice divorced aunts. He met my mom's side this Easter weekend--where everyone has only been married once and is still with that person. Cousins are begetting more cousins in wedded bliss. Tyler did exceptionally well with both sides despite their extreme differences. My grandmother took to him right away and told me before I left that he was a keeper. Don't I know it, Granny.

Tyler took on meeting everyone with gusto, which I very much appreciate since I've seen the alternative in my father dragging his feet before every Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. My family is important to me and since Tyler will be a part of it, it is also important that he feel welcomed just like his family welcomed me. I think he does. I look forward to all the coming family events with Tyler at my side.