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Family Disapproval - what do I do?
- Thread starter SRoque
- Start date
Dot indeed. We also worship, cows and elephants
I like to worship cows as well. Usually on a plate, medium rare with a nice bottle of Sam Adams....
Well done, sir. Well done. Rep.
I was in the same situation as some of you on this thread when I joined the Navy. Parents didn't feel comfortable with me joining...said it was too dangerous, Why not become a (enter any 'prestigious' occupation here)? They tried to convince me not to join even after I had signed the papers and took my oath at the recruiter's office. Kinda too late at that point...boy were they pissed.
I did what I felt was right for me. Years later I couldn't be happier, and the folks have pretty much accepted the fact that I'm in the Navy and enjoy what I do. The choice is ultimately up to you my friends. You don't want to have any resentment later on in life!
Adios, back to the beach for me...
I did what I felt was right for me. Years later I couldn't be happier, and the folks have pretty much accepted the fact that I'm in the Navy and enjoy what I do. The choice is ultimately up to you my friends. You don't want to have any resentment later on in life!
Adios, back to the beach for me...
Wow what a difficult post to reply to! Please excuse my poor sentence structure...
The motto I have always lived by is "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." I recently went though the same situation that the OP went though. The topic of joining the military is a sensitive one with my family. Risking my financial support in getting my PPL and finishing college, I let my parents know though several stern emails exactly what my intentions were, and that I know what the risk are.
I explained to my parents that the driving force behind my reasoning was that I wanted to repay all those people for putting themselves on the line for a person that they have never met and that I knew that I would never be able forgive myself if I never tried to get that NFO or Pilot slot, let alone joining the military.
Last week however, my parents sent me an email saying how proud they were of me for following my desire to fly and that they fully supported my wishes to try to join the military.
So what kind of advice could some college kid who hasn't even finished his application packet give to anybody that's currently going though the messy process of explaining to their parents on why they want to join the military?
1. This one is a given... Know that your parents love and care for you, for this reason they will try to protect in whatever way they can, even if it means screaming at and lying to you. However, if you hold your ground they will respect you for it in the end.
2. The question of "what if" is one of the worst things that you can put yourself though. Trying and failing is always better that not trying at all... except when it comes to skydiving and hand grenades.
3. You are a grown human being capable of rational thought and making sound decisions. Whatever power your parents had over you disappeared when you turned 18. Use a bit of that brain power and realize that it's your life to live.
*HAH, I did not realize that this post was from 5 years ago, sorry for resurrecting the dead.
The motto I have always lived by is "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." I recently went though the same situation that the OP went though. The topic of joining the military is a sensitive one with my family. Risking my financial support in getting my PPL and finishing college, I let my parents know though several stern emails exactly what my intentions were, and that I know what the risk are.
I explained to my parents that the driving force behind my reasoning was that I wanted to repay all those people for putting themselves on the line for a person that they have never met and that I knew that I would never be able forgive myself if I never tried to get that NFO or Pilot slot, let alone joining the military.
Last week however, my parents sent me an email saying how proud they were of me for following my desire to fly and that they fully supported my wishes to try to join the military.
So what kind of advice could some college kid who hasn't even finished his application packet give to anybody that's currently going though the messy process of explaining to their parents on why they want to join the military?
1. This one is a given... Know that your parents love and care for you, for this reason they will try to protect in whatever way they can, even if it means screaming at and lying to you. However, if you hold your ground they will respect you for it in the end.
2. The question of "what if" is one of the worst things that you can put yourself though. Trying and failing is always better that not trying at all... except when it comes to skydiving and hand grenades.
3. You are a grown human being capable of rational thought and making sound decisions. Whatever power your parents had over you disappeared when you turned 18. Use a bit of that brain power and realize that it's your life to live.
*HAH, I did not realize that this post was from 5 years ago, sorry for resurrecting the dead.
When I first spoke to my parents about it, my dad was all on board, my mom wasn't, and still isn't 100%.
Lesson I learned is sometimes you won't always get support from those around you; you'll have to want it badly enough yourself to prove them wrong. Wanting to do it for yourself in this case, will have to be enough.
Confide in those who offer support, and for everything else: do it because you want to do it, and nothing else.
Lesson I learned is sometimes you won't always get support from those around you; you'll have to want it badly enough yourself to prove them wrong. Wanting to do it for yourself in this case, will have to be enough.
Confide in those who offer support, and for everything else: do it because you want to do it, and nothing else.
She'll come around. Most people dont know jack or shit about what goes on in the military and once they realize that it's not getting shot at everyday then they're cool with it. My mom was the same way.
When I left for OCS my mom was all upset and my stepdad (prior SSgt in the Army) was like, "See your ass in 3 months. Have fun." and laughing about it.
My cousin is a Cpl in the Marines, and first thing my mom asks: "so do you have to salute your cousin once you join because he's more experienced than you?", or my favorite: "would you be going to the same boot camp your cousin went to?".... oh joy.
You mother is afraid of the unknown for you judging by her lack of knowledge about the military. Sit down and explain what the process to become an officer is, what a career path is like (your recruiter can lay this info out for you) and what you are hoping to learn/accomplish in the military. Don't forget to explain what the commitment is and when you are able to get out if you decide a career in the military is not for you.
Good luck!
FoF,
Good on you. So what's the end story? Have you gotten your commission? In flight school? In the fleet?
A lot of us dealt with the family disapproval or disapproval by friends, girlfriends, etc. If, when people say NO, your response is to fight and prove them wrong, then you've got the attitude that most of us have. We view opposition as one more opportunity to excel.
Always got to love the doctor thing. A buddy of mine is the black sheep of the family because he isn't a doctor like his siblings. What a screw up, USAF pilot, now a wide body captain for the best airline in the world?
You're on the right track. Being an officer in the US military is one of the most honorable professions in the world. You'll always remember the troops that worked their butts off in crappy conditions every day and you can be proud you were given the honor to be their officer.
Don't waste your breath on the opposition. Tell them you're doing it and minimize their interference. You've got lots to study without worrying about their feelings. On a black night in bad weather and low on gas, they won't be there. It'll be just you inside your helmet and the glow of your wingman's instruments reflecting off the canopy.
What's his name? I probably know him as we have less than 600 pilots on our list and only about 225 or so are wide-body Captains.
I wonder what the obsession is with M.D's and surgeons among Indians........seems like sort of a strange fetish. I mean I understand the attitude towards professions in general, but there are a lot of other professions that require advanced degrees/doctorates and pay big $$$ as well. In India, is the MD the highest form of life?
... about 225 or so are wide-body Captains.
For a moment, I thought about this phrase in the context of the old FAA 170lb standard pilot/pax weight, sedentary lifestyles, and the apparent widespread use of high fructose corn syrup in processed food...
Maybe I have a weird sense of humor (maybe)