One thing about my parents, my lovely, caring, generous parents, is that they’ve put a lot of time and effort into my education. They put me in all the best schools growing up and helped me along my path to Columbia University in the City of New York. This was not easy for them, and they made many sacrifices, but they always contended that it was “worth it to see me be a successful woman.” They even went as far as saying that they would “support me no matter what.”
Woah there! Certainly, this promise comes with some boundaries– like murder or something horrible. However, I’ve done something worse. I, a highly educated Ivy League student, have made the choice that every parent dreads…
I’m majoring in theater.
And here’s the real kicker, my parents? They support me! Why would they do that? Don’t they know that this is where they are supposed to reject my star-studded fantasies and force me to be a doctor or a lawyer, so that in 40 years when I can actually retire, and I’m rich but miserable, I can sigh and say, “Well in college, I wanted to be an actress! Can you believe it?”
At the very least, they are supposed to be sorta, kinda bummed about it, and then guilt me into choosing a realistic career. What they ABSOLUTELY are not supposed to do is support me! Why on god’s green earth would they enable me?
This new, supportive age of parents is ruining this generation. This is the Ivy League for Christ’s sake! Whatever happened to breeding the rich and sad? What a shame…
Parents, do your duty. Don’t support your kids.
