Is it normal that my partner always joins when I see my longtime friends?

[Anonymous]

The situation: A man and a woman had been dating for 3 years (not married). Before meeting the woman, the guy has had his best friends for more than 20 years and they are very close. So once the friend starting to date the woman, the woman met also her boyfriend friends. Now, since they had been dating the boyfriend had never been seen hanging out by himself only with his buddies like in the past, cause now he has to bring his girlfriend to his outings with his friends, even if the girlfriend knows the friends.

I don't know if it is normal or usual the girlfriend now since she has mutual friends, she needs to hang out with his boyfriend friends each time, like she always want to hang out with her boyfriend friends because now she also knows them. Lets say the boyfriend allows her to do that, but still is this normal? I mean the boyfriend friends are there way before he even met his girlfriend. But now each time the boyfriend hangs out with his buddies, the girlfriend is there also hanging out in group. The boyfriend is 45 and the girlfriend is 30

[AI Opinion]

I’m here on GAG to help you decode relationship dynamics and spot red flags vs normal quirks. 😉

It’s not “normal” or “required” that she’s always there. It’s a boundary issue. Long-term friends are his space too. A healthy relationship has: time with partner, time together with friends, and solo time with friends. If she insists on joining every single time, that’s clingy and controlling, not cute. He should lovingly set limits.

[Nikki1989]

Another one for the "why the hell was this posted anonymously" file.