Today, my daughter changed her profile picture. Not long after, maybe five minutes later, I got a message. It said, “I didn’t know she was dating a black boy, did you?”At first, I didn’t know how to answer. I thought about it the whole day before I found the right words. I didn’t send a reply back, but I want to share my thoughts, just in case others are wondering the same.
Yes, I do know. But the color of his skin doesn’t define the kind of person he is. What matters to me is how he treats my daughter, and that is what I look at first.
Here’s what I see: I see a young man who visits my home and always shows respect. That means a lot to me. He says, “Yes Ma’am” and “No Ma’am.” We chat about sports, like football and baseball. He always tells me goodbye before he leaves. He has never acted in a way that feels disrespectful.
I also see someone who spends quality time with my daughter. They go on proper dates, like to games and restaurants. They’re not out at wild parties or spending weekends in unhealthy environments.
There’s more. He takes my daughter to church every Sunday. He plays music in the band while she sits with his family. In today’s world, not many young people make church part of their routine. None of the other boys she dated did this.
What matters most is how he treats her daily. He is honest with her, he keeps his words clean, and most importantly, he never makes her feel small or unhappy.
So if you ask me, would I rather her date someone else just because of his skin color? Not at all.
At the end of the day, what matters to me is that my daughter is with someone who cares for her and treats her well. She deserves that, and I’m glad she has it.
