sup don horbus

[ogiwij]

My Dad lives ~the~ "American Dream", founded in the 50's. He also thinks that the "American Dream" is the only way of happiness that his children can succumb to and they are !stupid for not going down that path. He believes that love is not selfless and should be returned with admiration and respect. He and I obviously don't see eye-to-eye, and

Comments

[aviolentrage]

That sounds frustrating. I'm sure you feel some pressure to please your dad for all he's done--helping you out with college is a pretty substantial favor--but at the same time, you're an adult. You have your own path to follow, and if the pricetag of his assistance is that you can't follow that path, that's a pretty hefty pricetag.

I have to admit I'm beginning to understand how parents feel. Now that I'm getting older, I find myself thinking about what might have been. I mean, I'm only 21, but already I'm wishing I'd started writing/playing music much earlier. And it'd be a lot easier to not smoke if I'd never tried that first cigarette. And had I put forth effort in high school instead of waiting until well into college, I'd no doubt have saved a couple years of empty credits and tuition. So if/when I have kids, those will be the kinds of things I'll feel obligated to address. I've already lived through mistakes like those, so hopefully I can help others so they won't need to.

But what about the value of making mistakes and learning for yourself? What if I'd just be trying to raise a clone of myself and not an independent person capable of making rational choices? I don't think there are definitive answers, and that's what makes being a parent (and being a son/daughter!) so difficult.

I hope everything works out with both of you, sir.