Thanks for all the responses guys...
to answer a few questions...I am 22 and Doug is soon to be 26 this October. He and my brother are Best friends and their birthdays are actually on the same day, October 21st. Convenient, huh?
Yes, he's worried about the financial aspect....jobs are not good in Michigan right now...I hate it. But the fact that he's had the same job for 4 years I think it good..he's stable. I don't think two people have to be well off to get married....I know you have to at LEAST be able to make ends meet. But we're just talking about engagement here. Some people stay engaged for a couple of years and so on. I'm not saying that's what we're talking about, but it's a possibility because we both know there are some things we want to learn together still.
I appreciate my father's concern, I really do...I know he loves me and I know I'm daddy's girl. He's pretty much set on the idea that I should not and could not marry him. I know it's my decision in the long-run, but lets be honest.....all girls want their daddy's blessing. I think the role-playing is a good idea and I will be talking to Doug about it. He could really use some help to know what he's against.
I just didn't think my dad would be like this considering he and my mom were both making piddly wages at Kmart 30 years ago when they got married...then again cost of living was not so high.
I do live with my parents...I was living on my own, but hated it. My family has always been around...whether extended or close and I couldn't stand being by myself all the time...got boring too much.
Much of my dad's argument was that he's slow and he's never going to be able to be the leader of the household and if he is, then it's going to be hard for me to follow him and stuff like that. He's also upset because Doug is still on probation (off in October) for some things that happened in highschool. He was almost off a couple times, but then got in trouble again. Getting in trouble can mean a speeding ticket or anything...you have to be really good to stay off of probation. His father's story as to why is on probation is different than Doug's....so my dad says that he doesn't even know Doug and can't say "yeah marry him" when he may have a juvenile record with something bad on it.
*sigh*..there is a little more info. I had such a bad night thinking about everything..