I'm a 31-year-old man, and my partner, who is 28, and I have been in a relationship for six years, sharing a home for the past two. She’s always had a passion for comedy and used to perform at open mic nights regularly after we graduated from college. Despite her love for comedy, she had a stable job in sales, which she worked at during the weekdays, earning a pretty good salary.

I work in a demanding field myself and earn quite a bit more, nearly triple, in fact, compared to what she used to make at her sales job. That changed last August when she decided to quit her job to dedicate more time to her comedy, believing it could lead to a big break within the year. Although I was unsure about this decision, I supported her because I wanted to be a supportive boyfriend.

Since resigning, she's been driving for Uber and DoorDash, which is now her only source of income. Unfortunately, her comedy pursuits haven't brought in any money. Lately, I’ve felt growing resentment as she often struggles financially yet limits her driving shifts to a few times a week. Meanwhile, I'm covering most of our living expenses, which is starting to hinder my ability to save money. She has a habit of sleeping in quite late, especially following late-night gigs, and spends considerable time on social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube, claiming she's seeking inspiration. Moreover, she has an expectation for me to be present at nearly all of her performances, even if it's late at night after I've already had a long 14-hour workday. This expectation has often led to tensions between us.

Things escalated last night when I suggested she consider returning to a full-time job. I tried to express that she could continue her comedy on the side, but I was finding it tough to handle all our expenses alone. She brushed off my concerns, which led me to express, perhaps too harshly, that she might never make it as a famous comedian and should face reality. This confrontation upset her greatly, leading her to tearfully leave to stay with a friend and labeling me with some choice insults. She's been unresponsive since.

If my life was a reality show, the audience might be split. Some would likely empathize with my financial burden and agree with my suggestion for more stability. Others might view me as the villain, blaming me for not supporting my girlfriend’s dreams. It’s tricky to balance dreams and reality, and under the public eye, every decision and word can be critiqued intensely.

So, am I really the unreasonable one here?

Am I wrong for wanting my girlfriend to get a job?

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