Dear Tiffiny,
I have been in a relationship with my boyfriend for about five months
now. We met online and, in the beginning, he seemed to be alright with my wheelchair situation, but now I am not so sure. Things are going pretty well... I've met his parents, friends, except I'm
starting to worry that my limitations may be getting on his nerves.
He's really sweet, and that's part of the problem. I'm afraid he
wouldn't tell me to what he was really feeling even if I asked him. What can I do to make sure he's not starting
to get annoyed with my disability (I would hate for it to get the point that he
gets so fed up that he just walks away)?
Thanks for taking the time to help me.
Sincerely,
In love but worried
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Dear
In Love But Worried,
What
you're feeling is one of the most common things someone with a disability feels
when they're dating a partner who's able-bodied - are we good enough and will
our limitations eventually drive them away.
To be completely honest, they could, and this has happened to many
relationships, but that's life, it gets messy and sometimes hearts get broken.
When
you have a disability, preparing yourself for rejection is something we always
have to be ready for. I'd hate saying
this (because I wish it wasn't true), but the fact of the matter is that it is
true. But this shouldn't be an excuse to never date. There will always be some disappointment in
life, but the risk is always worth it, and that is especially the case in
relationships. No one wants to live
alone for the rest of their lives, so I applaud you for getting out there
dating despite everything.
What
makes you think he's getting sick of your limitations? Has he said anything in particular or are you
possibly being paranoid? When the summer
months come, there may be more activities than usual you can’t do together,
and you'll have to make sure (especially when you start dating) that they know
it's okay to still get out there into the things that they like to do. One of the main concerns able-bodied people
have when dating someone with a disability is this very thing - so they don't
want to feel guilty.
Make
sure you give your partner permission to enjoy their body still. Tell them to still get out there and run,
golf, play hopscotch, whatever they can do that you can't. And make sure you say it with a smile so
really they believe you.
Five
months is not that long of a time to be together, but it is usually a long enough
time for someone to figure out if they think they're ready to be with someone
with a disability for a long-term commitment.
Maybe it's time for you to sit down with your boyfriend and have an
honest conversation about your concerns.
Remember,
every relationship - whether there's a disability involved or not - always
hinges on good communication. Start
talking to him. My hope is that you're
just being paranoid, but please keep me posted.
Love
hard!
Tiffiny
To
submit your question to Tiffiny, email tiffiny@beautyability.com.
Excellent advice!
ReplyDeleteI use a wheelchair and when my husband and I first went to this cabin in the woods (and yes, it was accessible - I was so excited), I told him to go out hiking by himself. He has a digital camera and he took it with him. When we returned home, he put together a "virtual hike" for me to see. He said his personal hike through the woods was a great stress reliever for him and his "techie" side enjoyed making the video for me!
ReplyDeleteThat's probably the sweetest thing. :)
ReplyDelete