Just watched their latest video. Shane admitted that in two of his past romantic relationships, the parents of the girls sat their daughters down and told them that they didn't want them to be with Shane because they'd have to be a caregiver and they didn't need that in their life, etc. Before he mentioned it, Shane dismissively referred to this whole situation as "the wheelchair problem." As if those parents didn't want their daughters to end up with him simply because he's in a wheelchair.
It's annoying when he downplays how much care his significant other has to do for him. It's not like he is the average person in a wheelchair who has use of their arms. It's perfectly normal and understandable that parents would have concerns. I'm sure Shane's parents would have concerns if the roles were reversed (not that the able-bodied version of Shane would ever date a girl with SMA). No parent wants their kid to break their back caring for their spouse for decades -- life is hard enough as it is.
Oh, then I need to listen to that part again. I listened to that part twice and thought Shane was talking about other "interabled" couples where THEIR parents had sat them down and had that discussion. I didn't hear that as him saying that happened with the parents of his first 2 girlfriends. He said the only thing Hannah's parents expressed concern about was when Shane moved in with her, that their relationship, i.e.
any relationship, not just theirs, would be a distraction while she was trying to finish college. (That was at the 16-minute mark.) Apparently it wasn't, as she graduated on time. I can't remember her major at the moment, but I seem to recall it was something kind of vague... some kind of psychology or sociology. Whatever it was, it didn't sound like something that would make her particularly marketable.
ETA: I stand corrected,
@Clara88 ! Shane specifically said (beginning around 16:45) that with two of his previous relationships the girls' parents did indeed have "the talk" with them. He said that was hurtful and probably explains why those relationships didn't work out. He said he wasn't going to name names but that if you've read his books you know, plus those are the only two previous serious relationships he's mentioned, so it's no secret. I've often wondered if Shane's narcissism is overcompensation for the realization that he is totally dependent on other people just to survive.
There was a commenter, Bob B, on their previous video who said, "
OOOO DAM I WORKED IT OUT THEY GET OFF ON PEOPLES REACTIONS....."
Someone replied, "Or maybe they're just trying to normalize the fact that they have a relationship by making videos about it. Y'all looking for all the insidious hidden reasons for their relationship but they're just people who are together and trying to live their lives.
Bob B replied, "Then why every video they make is about disability and the difference between them? If they wanted to normalize it the vids would go beyond the fact there's a hot girl with a severely disabled man."
I realize he was just trolling, but he actually makes a good point there. I think that sums up much of the criticism they get. They incessantly insist their relationship is "normal" but rarely, as Bob B said, "go beyond the fact there's a hot girl with a severely disabled man." It's as if they can't think of anything
besides their "interableness" to talk about.
Someone else said, "Every video Hannah is an angel who is willing to break her back just to make Shane's life better. Every video she is bubbly and happy and laughs at everything he says while gasping for air."