"My partner and I have been dating for about 18 months and we each have two children. We're starting to talk about combining our households within the next year, but I have some concerns that I'm not sure how to bring up with my partner. I live in the small, affluent town that I was raised in, while he is from a much larger, middle-class area about an hour away."
"My children are the same: athletic, outgoing and pretty good at entertaining themselves, but they will occasionally complain there isn't enough to do. My partner's kids are not like mine. I don't allow video games in my house and limit screen time as much as possible, while his kids are definitely TV kids (mostly due to his ex's parenting style. He tries to keep them active and out of the house but often to no avail)."
"Dear Blended But Bored, Leaving my hometown is non-negotiable at this time since I currently care for my parents, who, despite some challenging health issues, have solid prognosis that indicate a long, healthy life expectancy. My biggest fear is that his children will be bored and miserable here, with lack of easily-accessible entertainment and no video games allowed. How do I discuss this with my partner in a way that doesn't insult his parenting or hurt his feelings?"
Two partners, each with two children, plan to combine households within a year while one partner must remain in a small hometown to care for aging parents. The towns differ in size and available entertainment: one offers arcades, restaurants, bowling alleys, and movie theaters, while the other has limited accessible options. The children differ in temperament and media habits: one family enforces no video games and limited screens, while the other family's children are TV-oriented due to an ex's permissive approach. The main concern is whether relocated children will be bored and how to raise these differences without insulting the partner.
Read at Slate Magazine
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