This Christmas I am down with my parents and have been since yesterday morning. Whilst I love my parents I find being around them hard work for a number of reasons
1. They think my girlfriend and I are no longer together - we split up temporarily in February and when we got back together I didn't tell my parents as they decided to spend most of the time we were together and apart being incredibly rude about her.
2. They hate my girlfriend - basically they can't cope with the fact that I am a lesbian and as she is the first girl who has met them they have taken a dislike to her. Or should I say took a dislike to her. It was over five years ago that we got together.
3. They hate me being a lesbian - this has partially been covered by the above points but to add some further points...they keep asking me when I'll find a nice boy, they won;t tell any of the other members of my family, they won't tell any of my friends.
4. They pester me repeatedly about returning home - I am 29 and as a result I would rather not be living under my parents roof - yes it would be more cost effective for me but for the above reasons it would drive me up the wall. Also if girlfriend and I went our separate ways and I got a new gf how would they explain that to the neighbours.
5. They are cat people - this isn't a problem but I have a dog and we seem to have been banished to the coldest room in the house this Christmas so that the cats can luxuraite and be pampered.
6. They comment on my weight and lifestyle - seriously my dad will still ask me if I have changed my knickers in the morning. They also criticise me for being overweight - I am not happy about my present size but I am going to do something about it. Their criticism makes me just want to eat all the chocolate and Pringles in the house!
7. They lie about me - I think this is the worst of all. They tell people I am doing a different job to the one I have, living in a different location, that I am straight and various other little lives in miniature have also been made up. It does nothing for my self confidence but also has the effect that if I see any of my relatives I run and hide as I am afraid to talk to them and tell them the truth!
So I am having a major challenge this Christmas biting my tongue and being polite. Oh and keeping out of sight when anyone comes over so that no-one see their overweight daughter and so that I can't tell them what's really going on in my life.
