Last Sunday, I brought my fiancée, Mallory, to meet my parents. She’s tall, platinum blonde, and not a size two, but she’s the warmest, kindest person I know. Unfortunately, my parents weren’t welcoming, with my mom barely smiling and my dad avoiding eye contact. After Mallory stepped out, they expressed concerns about her size and health. I didn’t defend her in the moment, but later I realized I needed to stand up for her.

A few days later, I told Mallory about my parents’ worries. I also shared my plans to move with her to California and open a cooking studio, which we had been saving for. When I told my parents, they were shocked but eventually accepted our decision, though not without reservation.

In California, we started Mallory’s Spoon & Soul, a cooking studio celebrating all sizes and backgrounds. Over time, my parents visited, and while they still made occasional remarks, they saw Mallory’s true value. Our journey taught me that love isn’t about fitting expectations, but embracing each other fully and standing up for the ones you love.