Being an international/interracial couple affects not only the couple itself but their parents and families also. If you are international newbies, you have probably not realized it yet but your relationship or marriage is going to affect the in-laws deeply, sometimes more than they would have desired.
Now, if you are reading this post, then you must care about your parents or your parents-in-law. How can you make the acceptance process as smooth as possible?
The fear that you you will move/relocate
One important factor for most parents is the fear of you leaving them for good since sooner or later you will move to another city or country. Moving to another city is, of course, a more trivial issue than relocate completely to another country. It actually depends on the way your parents/in-laws perceive distances, so there are not such distances which are objectively short/long. There are small countries where the main cities are very distant from each other or badly connected, for instance.
How to overcome this fear? It is paramount to be honest with your loved ones and explain them clearly how often you can come back or how you will have their taking care of sorted out. Naturally, you are not probably alone in this task since siblings and family members can help you out. The best approach is sincerity, with yourself and with your family!
What can they learn from an international relationship?
Your parents/in-laws will also gain a lot from being international parents! Actually, the richness that an international couple brings is not to remain within the couple. Here's a list of gifts that my family were blessed with.
Opportunity to see a new country and meet a new culture
Many parents work all their adults lives to afford an education for their children. As a result, the resources that parents keep for themselves are somewhat limited. So, helping them travel and see new places is a way to give back to them what they have invested in you!
Travelling represents also a unique way to help your parents/in-laws revitalize themselves since it brings novelty, discovery and a healthy dose of excitement. Travelling has also became quite affordable these days.
When meeting with your international/interracial partner, your parents will also have a unique access to a different world of people, food, places, point of views. This, in return, can benefit their communities of friends and collegues as well.
It is also an inspiring way to discover new interests, new sports and dive into different sets of believes. The funny thing, though, is that many times the basic believes and values aren't that different after all. Somehow, they seem to be wrapped differently, but the substance is really the same.
How was your parents/in-laws approach to your international life? Share it with us!
