Family doesn’t support my boyfriend, how do I navigate this?

Advice Request

Hi Reddit, I’m a 24F (turning 25 in December) and my boyfriend is 22M (turning 23 in March). We’ve been together for almost 3 years now, and I recently told my parents that we’re still dating.

My dad is somewhat understanding—he says to be careful because “guys can switch up,” but ultimately he respects my decision. My mom, however, is still against it and keeps pushing for us to break up.

Now my aunt has started texting me, saying things like, “Don’t marry him, he doesn’t have a master’s but you do, and you’re making more money than him right now because he’s still in college.” Both my mom and aunt grew up poor, had to rely on someone older and financially stable, and I feel like they have a very different mindset from mine.

There’s also a religious component. My boyfriend’s family is Muslim, but they don’t know he’s converting to Christianity for himself. Most of his cousins are already Christian, and even though his parents are Muslim, they still love me and accept me knowing my faith. Despite that, my family sees this as a “discrepancy,” which adds more tension in their eyes.

It’s frustrating because my family and relatives are making judgments based on what they hear from others and aren’t even willing to get to know him personally. How do I navigate this situation and maintain my relationship without completely disregarding my family?

Posted Dec 1, 2025, 6:55 PM UTC

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