[Military personnel who have been in the same situation,] what to say to a discontent parent?
Question by IKE: [Military personnel who have been in the same situation,] what to say to a discontent parent?
I am a 19 year old and I have been going to community college for over a year now. I have told both my parents for the last 6 months of my interest in joining the Marine Corps Reserve. My father has been more than supportive about this plan while my mother is opposite to the idea, wanting me to go away to college and getting a degree in construction management, (which I myself really desire to obtain). I (as well as my recruiter) have talked long and hard to her about the Marine Reserves yet it seems she still does not understand why I would want to do this. Growing impatient with her, I joined without her and my fathers knowing. I finally told my father and my mother a month latter, (three days ago), and now she can barely stand the sight of me. I try to comfort her by saying that I will, no matter what happens, finish college and get my much wanted degree but she still does not understand. My father though does, and believes it is a rather noble thing to do. She seems as if she has done something wrong in raising me, I know this because my father told me after he had a nights long discussion with her about it and she even said to him, “how could I have raised a son that wants to kill people.” I have told her for months and have even told her this last night that I am doing this not because of benefits or “the thrill to kill people” but because of the nobility of the cause and of it being a great way (maybe the best [I don’t know]) in becoming a stronger person. I told her if I wanted benefits I wouldn’t have joined the reserve, (only making $ 350 a month for school [which really comes down to nothing when talking about most universities]) and I would have joined an NROTC program at a university right away, (which I also plan on doing when I go back to school). Now I am not asking if I have made a bad decision, (because I know it was a right decision) and I am not asking if it was wrong of me to go behind my parents back and join the military (because I know it was a wrong decision) but I am asking what should I do to comfort my mother (a stubborn woman) when she does not understand why I am doing this and help both of us sleep at night. Thank you for your time and answers, I really do appreciate it.
-and the fools say I support our troops but it is not something for my son/daughter.
Best answer:
Answer by jarrod e
dude... tell her that you arent killing people...but your making the world a better place...... tell her that it takes someone really brave to do just what your doing and that what you are doing is beautiful...... she is probably just worried about your own safety and doest know how to react to it...just dont let the marine life take you away from your mother....... allways be there for her... tell her some one has got to do the job and that it has to be some one dedicated just like yourself to do the job... good luck.....
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