How important is your background?
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How important is your background?
| Thu, 07-08-2004 - 1:11pm |
I am 26 and I have been together with my live-in boyfriend for 2.5 years. I love him very much and we frequently discuss marriage and children, but there is one problem I can't seem to get over. My boyfriend and I have very different education backgrounds. I went to a good college and went on to get a master's degree. My boyfriend is now at the age of 25 going to community college and hoping to eventually get a bachelors degree. He has a good work ethic and enjoys learning new things, but he isn't incredibly smart. He is by no means dumb, but he doesn't have the best grammar and things like that. When we are alone or around friends this doesn't bother me, but when we are around my family, who are all intellectuals, I become self-conscious. They tell me that they think he is great and not to worry about it. I am an incredibly analytical and self-conscious person anyway, so this could all be in my head. My question is, is this a big enough obstacle that I should reconsider our future together? Besides this one point we are compatible in every way.

Although it irks me, being a grammar queen, I've stopped correcting him and decided it's just one of the quirks that come with him.
If you feel you would analyse your boyfriend and not be able to overcome the things that bother you now - set him and yourself free. It would be sad for a nice guy like him to feel he never measures up. It would also be sad for you to eventually feel burdened with someone you feel doesn't meet your standards. Does intellect really measure a person's worth? Is it fair to analyse someone you love based on their intelligence?