Parents just don't understand ...

Apr 8

I was really nervous about writing this, as it is something that is incredibly personal ... however, I have found that the more people that I tell, the more that I realize we are all in the same boat. (And the more honest I am with myself, and life in general, the easier it all seems to get ...)

Two things parents don't understand tech, and entrepreneurship. I love my parents dearly, and hold them in a constant place of unconditional love (very true). However, my parents have not encouraged me at all with this website. Hence why I say, this is something I have done ENTIRELY on my own. I have thrown out every label I used to place on myself, and somehow found this strange and all encompassing bliss. I tell myself that I've lost my mind - but if this is losing your mind, then I wish it was something I did years ago.

My parents raised me to be a strong, successful woman - however, it was success on their terms. What is success? How do we define something so relative, and encourage our relatives, and other people based upon our own preconceived notions of how we measure it. I am from Connecticut, and being a nerdy hippie is not something my parents dreamed of. They had no problem encouraging me in modeling and acting - however creating my own digital platform for exploring those lovely parts of myself was not a welcomed notion. My parents very matter of fact measure my success by how much money I have. My brother too (again, love my brother VERY much ... good, good, egg), but he told me recently that I should explore going to community college for marketing. They have ABSOLUTELY no clue what I am doing. However, I couldn't let that get to me. Feverishly searching for their satisfaction and approval was never going to get me anywhere in life. Even when I did have their approval and their satisfaction, I wasn't happy. So what gives?

My family does not really care about the Fiesta Movement. In fact, it only gets mentioned with a passing breath. They have absolutely no clue what goes into this site, or what I do for work - and frankly, they don't seem to care. But at the end of the day, I'm actually at a place where that is starting to become okay! Like I said, I love my parents and brother unconditionally ... sure, it drives me mad that they don't understand how BIG of a deal it is to be given office space and a studio, and OH yeah I am part of the biggest social media campaign in the US currently, but their frame of reference isn't the same as mine. And that's OKAY!!! It's great in fact! They won't ever get it. I'm to the point now where I just sort of chuckle at it all - I understand our family dynamic has changed since my grandmother has been ill - however, I just can't let that get to me. (Side note: my grandmother bless her little heart has been in the final stages of cancer for the last year. Every other day I used to hear that she didn't have "much longer ..." What is much longer? I love my grandmother dearly, but her death cannot be my life. Is that horrible to say? Is that horrible to think? Because I don't feel guilty about not feeling bad! I have my own personal beliefs in the after life, and I just say lots of prayers.)

Bottom line is that your family may have brought you into this world, but your ideas and dreams do not have to be the same. I can't sit there and turn blue in the face wishing I had their approval and acceptance, because I would be wasting precious time on actually accomplishing what I am here for. I hold everyone in life in a place of unconditional love, and I know at the end of the day, no matter what, love conquers all. It has to! And if not, at least we'll all be able to hang out at the holidays ...

Here, have a listen to this song if you're in this situation. It will definitely make you smile!