Hello guys I'm pretty stuck and I feel like having a 3rd unbiased party give me advice on my situation would be very helpful.
I'm 23 years old. I grew up very family oriented. I still live with my family and I always do everything I can to make my family happy. My whole life I grew plenty of support and love from my family. 3 months ago I started dating my first real girl friend. And I know 3 months is a little soon to know anything, but I can't help the way I feel, which is Love. Since we meet and got together I have spent everyday with her. Even with work, family, friends i have still found away to see her everyday for 3 months. We love each other so much. I want to do anything and everything to make her happy. We have went on a long distance trip together to San Fran, we went to Disneyland and she has treated me wonderful with love and honesty. And I honestly see myself ending up with her. Thats what I want.
The problem is her and my family. For 23 years of my life I have always been there for my family and I always depended on them. School, work advice I always shared and got advice from my family. I am fully employed and graduated college with my family support. Now since I have been with my girl friend it has made it hard to balance time between both. I spend most of my free time with my girl friend now I find myself losing some of the strong connection I had. My family hasn't made it easy. They tell me I'm not there enough and I know they get upset that I'm spending soo much time with my girl friend. The only constant thing I have with my family is that we eat dinner every week night Monday-Thursday. I find myself missing out on that now. My girl friends also having a tough time dealing with the pressure of my family. She feels guilty for making me choose between her and my family. So guilty she broke up with me if though we both still love each other. She feels upset when my family yells at me for not being there enough. She feels that I need to become my own man. I can't live with my family forever and i can't always worry about please them. And she says its not even about please her its just become my own man. A man that can take care of himself and earn his own self respect.
So I guess my question is..do I start this transition to leave my family even though I love them and they are all I have known for 23 years. Or do I follow my girl friends advice and start this transition to where I can be independent. I mean I have a job. I have a college degree. I still want to get a Master and I don't make toooo much. But I still live with my family and I care to make them happy too. I just don't know what to do. If there is any advice out there I appreciate it.. Thank you in advance.