The best thing about having met my fiance when he was 18 is being able to watch him grow into an adult and get to grow along side him.
One moment I think about a lot is actually from when we first started dating.
I can’t recall the exact conversation, but I remember he had used the R slur very casually either with me or with his friends.
And I said to him, “I don’t like the R slur because as an autistic person, it hurts me a lot. It is a Harmful word especially coming from a neurotypical/allistic person.”
And he listened to me and said “Oh. Im so sorry. I promise I won’t use it again.”
And genuinely… he’s never used that word ever again.
In fact- I think he told his friends that they shouldn’t use it either which I didn’t even ask him to do.
I just told him I didn’t like when he used it. And he just… stopped.
I think about this moment a lot because it’s such a small thing… but it’s also not.
I expected pushback, I expected an argument, I expected to have to give him time to change…
And this change, it’s small right? It’s an easy change to make to not say slurs… but it’s such a testament to who my fiance is.
Not only did he not question that I was hurt, he recognized it and apologized immediately.
And, he also changed his behavior knowing it was harmful to others- especially a marginalized group.
Looking at the man he is today- a feminist, anti racist, a communist, a passionate advocate for human rights, god- he’s even a vegetarian…
He makes me want to be better every single day because he genuinely wants to be a good human being.
I am so proud of the man he’s become and I’m so excited to see how he will grow in the future.
I was scared to marry someone I met at 19, it felt too young.
But, it’s the greatest gift.
He got to watch me drink my first beer. He got to watch me vote for president for the first time. He got to see me get many jobs and watched me get the job I have now- the longest time I’ve ever spent at a place.
I got to watch him visit the USA for the first time, I got to bring him to an American bar when he turned 21.
I got to cheer him on every single step he took.
And I love it. I love him so much!!!!!