Telling parents...

twiddleypop

I couldn't find another thread on this topic but surely someone has had this problem!

I have just finished college and am in the fortunate position of having a couple of grand. So I am absolutely dying to travel and have been since I was 12. I have been around Europe and America but now want to travel Asia for a few months. I have a friend planning on going for 6 weeks and I plan to leave with her but stay longer.

Now the problem. My parents will absolutely freak out. I'm dreading telling them as they're old fashioned and couldn't understand why I'd ever want to leave the parish :rolleyes:

Anyway, I had the offer of a masters and was humming and hawing but truly what I want to do is travel but I already told them I was going to do it. I just know they will be disappointed and discouraging and ruin the whole thing before I set foot outside the door!

I'm thinking of opening with...
I'M PREGNANT!
Let them think that for a day or two etc and then tell them
ONLY MESSING JUST FECKING OF TO ASIA FOR A FEW MONTHS.

Anyone been in this position? Lord its embarrassing how much I'm dreading breaking the news!

How old are you?

LINE45

Just tell them

twiddleypop

I'm 21 and J1ed last summer and survived!


I do plan to bite bullet tomorrow! It would be grand if they could use a computer because it would be so easy to keep in touch but realistically any contact between us will go through my brother and sister.

athtrasna

Defer the Masters and go travelling. Tell your parents once you've confirmed the deferral - it will re-assure them.

Ah here OP, I'm not trying to be harsh but you're a grown adult. Just tell them for goodness sake. Janey mackers I can't comprehend worrying about telling my parents something like that when I was 21 -considering I hadn't lived with them in 4 years.

Timmyctc

Deleted User wrote: »

Ah here OP, I'm not trying to be harsh but you're a grown adult. Just tell them for goodness sake. Janey mackers I can't comprehend worrying about telling my parents something like that when I was 21 -considering I hadn't lived with them in 4 years.

Ah but Whoopsa back when you were 21 Air travel was only something in sci-fi and travelling to Asia for the summer was something no one could have comprehended.

Basically you're old.
OP bite the bullet and let them know. Surely if you J1'd they would have n problem with that?

LINE45

Just tell them and get it over with and that way you will be able to stop all this worrying yourself over nothing. Exciting times ahead for you!!

twiddleypop

I was away for college for four years too and feel that it was a huge mistake to move back for the summer because it's like being 17 again!

They aren't going to talk me out of it though I'm determined. I'm just not looking forward to hearing about all the things that "could happen" to me and the general discouragement! Thanks for your replies, harsh but fair!

Well they did have a problem with the J1 ! It was only for 3 months though and this travelling period will be... indefinite

Ms.Sunshine

Just tell them that you were mature enough to save up the money to go travelling so here is your plan. Would you be travelling with anyone? If not that is the only concern they might have.

keithclancy

Jesus Christ .. your telling them your going away for a trip not coming out of the closet. :pac::pac::pac::pac:



Just tell them and go.

another native

"A couple of grand" might not last as long as you'd think, especially if you find little in the way of work, should funds run low. The last thing you'd want is having your parents fork out financially for your travel adventures! Think it out well - and if you decide to go, may I suggest that you purchase adequate travel insurance, for everyone's peace of mind.

zagmund

Or

They might say "here's a couple of grand, stay away even longer"

Or

They might just say "grand so, don't forget to have fun and stay in touch"

Or

They might urge you to put the money as a deposit on a new tractor or something.

Seriously, OP, I'm siding with the old folks above - at the ripe old age of 21 if you're worried about telling your parents you're going on holidays then I think . . . well, I don't know what I think, but it wouldn't have happened back in the day.

It's all part of growing up. The thing that you do have to consider is what happens when you come back having spent all your money? Will you need to rely on them for support or will you be supporting yourself? If you are supporting yourself then welcome to the grown up world. If you aren't then you might actually need to listen to them if they say you might be wiser spending the money on your education. Maybe they were just about to breathe a sigh of relief that you had saved up a couple of grand and could afford to put yourself through your masters. I could see why they *might* be upset if suddenly this money disappears off to Asia and they see you coming back to them a year later looking for dosh.

z

Lapin

twiddleypop wrote: »

It would be grand if they could use a computer because it would be so easy to keep in touch.......

Tell them via postcard


Hi Mum & Dad,

I'm in Bangkok, off to Phuket in the morning.

The tea is lovely here. Hope the cat is ok.

See you in 9 months !

Twiddly


Go and see the world while you have the chance.
You'll only have the rest of your life to regret it if you don't.
Your folks will be fine if you keep in regular touch through your brother and sister.
Send plenty of reassuring photos for them to look at.

Fratton Fred

Just tell them you're going to O'Reilleys for Dublin bay prawns.

Its not your fault they don't know it is in the Patpong district in Bangkok!

Seriously though, I always wanted to do it but never did. It is one of my biggest regrets.

imitation

In fairness, you did a degree, surely thats proof enough for any parent that your serious. Just tell em straight up, anything else and you seem like a teen trying to slink out bush drinking.

Make sure you figure out how much it cost and add a contingency, you dont want get stranded, or spend your masters year eating nothing but noodles !

No Pants

Make sure they send you away with a box of Barry's tea.

ProudDUB

Tell them the truth & keep it simple. Tell them that you are doing something that most/a lot other people your age are doing. Tell them that you want to get the travel bug out of your system before you settle down for good and do the grown up thing. Tell them that you don't want to find yourself middle aged and full of regrets at not doing something exciting when you were younger. Tell them that you hope that just because parents didn't have the inclination or bravery or opportunity to do what you are doing, every generation does things that the one before never did, so you hope that they will be happy for you.

Keep it plain and simple. Don't start making up stories. Your parents will find out the truth soon enough. They will just be even more upset that you lied to them. Whether it goes well or not, you need to start getting practice in talking to them honestly about your life. If you can't do it over something as simple as a shaggin holiday, what'll it be like when the really serious life stuff starts happening to you?

Agree with others about being prepared to talk about happens when you get back. If they supported you while you were in college, they are deserving of some sort of answers as to what you plan to afterwards. Don't go down the "I'll see what happens when I get back" road. Parents lose all reason when their kids trot out that kind of crap and these days, who can blame them?