Conflicts with Family and Boyfriend

Conflicts with Family and Boyfriend

Reader Question

Dear Lori, I am 21 years old and I have been dating this older man for a number of months now. He has been living with us because he had been between jobs and places right now because of his family and other reasons. Now my landlords, whom are also my family, want him out and he doesn't have anywhere to go until his money comes in on Friday. The worst part is I might be pregnant and I cannot tell my family because they are very judgmental. I already have one child out of wedlock due to a rape but these particular family members don't believe me. I cannot tell my mom either because she would throw me out. I would then risk losing my son, and if that were to happen, it would kill me. I don't want my boyfriend to be out in the freezing cold. What can I do????

-- Contributed by: Stephanie

Expert Reply

Dear Stephanie,

One of the advantages of having your boyfriend living under the same roof you’re living under is how convenient and easy it is to maintain the relationship. You don’t say why your family wants this guy out of their house. Is it because he has taken advantage of their generosity and not contributed financially? Is it because of your relationship with him and they don’t approve? Or is it some other reason? I am guessing that it is a combination of many things. I think the fact that your family/landlords don’t want him in the house says a lot about his behavior. This is important information for you to take into consideration, especially if it means the difference between providing a roof over you and your son’s heads. As long as you are dependent on them, you and your son’s safety depend on you following their rules.

While you may care deeply for this guy and worry about his safety, keep in mind that he has managed this far in life on limited resources. This makes me wonder if you are concerned that if he leaves your relationship with him will end. If this were to be the case, your reaction and feeling anxious to your family/landlords kicking him out would make a lot of sense. Like your family, you may wonder how reliable he will be once he leaves. This would be especially worrisome if you think you might be pregnant.

Your first priority is keeping a roof over you and your son’s head. To do that, you’re going to have to let your boyfriend find other shelter. As for the rest, take it one step at a time. First, if you think you might be pregnant, let your boyfriend know and if possible, together or alone get a test to find out. If you are pregnant, you’ll need to find out what your boyfriend's commitment is to supporting you, your son and the baby to be. Is he going to help you or not? Should he take responsibility, the two of you are going to need to talk with your family and let them know the situation.

Should he abandon you, you are going to have to take matters into your own hands. Since you think your family will kick you and your son out, I would suggest that before you tell them of your pregnancy, you first visit a welfare office in your area. Find out what kind of housing, medical care and financial assistance you can get and take the steps necessary to secure these resources. This way, should your family kick you out, you’ll know where to turn next.

While addressing all these issues head on won’t be easy, taking the necessary steps will help you to provide a safe and warm environment for you, your son and possibly your unborn baby.

~~Lori