Search Results: romantic relationship romance

Situation first, then question.

Situation: I'm in a really good relationship with my boyfriend. We have similar convictions, great conversation, want the same things out of a relationship, the list goes on and on...

The only thing that we have an issue with is in the romance/affection department. I come from a very loving and 'touchy-feely' family and he comes from a family that wasn't really into the whole affection scene. As a result, he expresses his love by doing thoughtful, practical things instead of romantic.

I know he loves me, and I'm very much in love with him but I feel a little romance starved. We've talked about it, and for a few days things will be different but it always slips back to the default.

Question: Am I disappointed in his inability to express love to me the way I want it expressed, or am I setting myself up for disappointment by wanting him to love me the way I want to be loved instead of how he wants to love me? In other words, is it fair to want him to change or am I closing the door on true love because he's not expressing love the way I had in mind?

Yes? No? What do you think I should do and how do you perceive this situation on a broad scale? Meaning, does this situation reflect a common theme of woman reading into the cliche' of romantic relationships only to find that the real world is reading from a difference book?