A lot of guys on this forum have foregone traditional, "respectable" careers, lifestyles and choices in favor of what they truly want to do. Maybe, you've decided to let it all go, work six months out of the year and spend the rest traveling and fucking girls across different continents. Perhaps you struggle answering the question ... "So what do you do for a living" with absolute certainty since you are a location independent entrepreneur with multiple income streams. Maybe you just got into a PhD program in Anthropology instead of Law School like your family expected you to since you drew your first breath. A lot of you have made the decision to not marry or have kids. Underachieving dude of a successful father? Or maybe you're just not as successful as your family expected you to be ... could be in any aspect of life.
I'm fairly certain most of us are beyond the point where we care what random strangers think about our life and choices. But how about family members who we love and cherish? I'm shipping out to Basic in three weeks at age 26. My parents and extended family members accept my decision but their vision for me was entirely different.
According to their plan, I should have been a year away from graduating Medical school, along with a sweet fiance' and wedding plans as soon as I graduated. Instead, I have a useless Industrial Engineering degree, worked in a career I hate for a couple years and am a borderline alcoholic.
My mom is a big-time drama Queen so I never deemed her rants or criticisms attention worthy. Dad's a man of few words however. Skyped him Tuesday evening & towards the end he goes " Alright son I love you regardless". I ask him what he exactly meant since we weren't having an argument or even talking about heavy topics. He goes " Well, you didn't turn out how your mother and I expected you to but we love you". I made some joke to diffuse the intensity of the situation but that shit felt like a cold blade to my heart.
Have you guys dealt with similar situations? How do you emancipate yourselves from familial slavery without straining the actual relationship or considering cutting them off to an extent?
I'm fairly certain most of us are beyond the point where we care what random strangers think about our life and choices. But how about family members who we love and cherish? I'm shipping out to Basic in three weeks at age 26. My parents and extended family members accept my decision but their vision for me was entirely different.
According to their plan, I should have been a year away from graduating Medical school, along with a sweet fiance' and wedding plans as soon as I graduated. Instead, I have a useless Industrial Engineering degree, worked in a career I hate for a couple years and am a borderline alcoholic.
My mom is a big-time drama Queen so I never deemed her rants or criticisms attention worthy. Dad's a man of few words however. Skyped him Tuesday evening & towards the end he goes " Alright son I love you regardless". I ask him what he exactly meant since we weren't having an argument or even talking about heavy topics. He goes " Well, you didn't turn out how your mother and I expected you to but we love you". I made some joke to diffuse the intensity of the situation but that shit felt like a cold blade to my heart.
Have you guys dealt with similar situations? How do you emancipate yourselves from familial slavery without straining the actual relationship or considering cutting them off to an extent?