Daughter’s fine, just butt out

Dear Carolyn: Daughter, 32, owns her own lovely townhouse. Been living with Boyfriend for three-plus years. Boyfriend recently took a promotion that requires him to be in another city three weeks per month, and one week with her. She seems OK with the situation. He’s even moving some of his furniture there. I think it’s a strange situation for a young, unmarried couple. Should I just butt out? It bothers me – like Daughter can’t get on with her life. Any comments? – Anonymous Would it bother you less if Boyfriend sat on the floor three weeks per month, instead of moving some of his stuff?

Yes, they appear to be on course for less of a commitment to each other versus more – “appear” being the operative word – and yes that will bother a loving bystander who defines “get on with her life” in terms of marriage, children, commingled furniture, detached home.

I’m less impressed by how unconventional this arrangement is, though, than I am by how self-sufficient your daughter seems to be. Sure, there are plenty of risks involved in this semi-long-term, semi-long-distance relationship, some of them obvious and some not so. But I don’t see any hint in your letter that she’s not capable of spotting, managing and, if needed, recovering from these risks herself.

Love her, trust her, root for her, be available to her if needed – and butt out. And never ever I-told-you-so her, even if you turn out to be right.