After calling Dr. Laura about her 23-year-old daughter's plans to shack up with her new boyfriend, Donna shares the text she crafted with Dr. Laura's help...
“I'm sorry. I love you. I'm happy that you're happy, but I am concerned that you're rushing into this. I think you need to take more time to date and get to know each other.
Your twenties are the time for you to be learning about YOU – your wants and needs. You are just figuring that out. This is the first boy you believe loves you just the way you are. That's great, but also sad. You need to love YOU just the way you are.
Moving in because it's 'easy' is not a reason to do it. Don't make it easy for him. You are the prize! Men don't appreciate what they don't have to work hard to get.
I know you see your friends moving in with their boyfriends. It feels like the right thing for you to do too. And you think you love him. But I'm sad that just as you are starting to grow into a young woman, you are stunting yourself by latching on to a man at this point.
Grampa used to say to me, 'The world is your oyster.' I just want to see you make your dreams happen. If this is what it is, so be it.
I love you. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, but I have to be honest about how I feel.”
Donna
A Letter to My Shacked-up Daughter
