<p>So I'm working this summer at my college and its not the normal bs job for the summer. I'm working on a designing layout and cover for a magazine for one of the departments. Its an important magazine that needs to be ready for the fall. Unfortunately its taking forever as the department is real slow with getting me all the materials I need to get the magazine ready. Also I'm the only one working on the project. So I told my boss I when I first took the job that I could only work till the end of July, which he was fine with him. Now there's about two weeks left and the project is looking more and more like its going to spill over into August. The department is notorious for providing materials last minute. I won't be there to complete it, which is alright with my boss, his hope is that I still push out a template and general layout that can fine tuned by someone else. But right now that layout template is not ready.</p>
<p>The problem is my parents keep calling and want me to come home a week earlier. I told them that I can't due the project and I that I need to push out this template. And as predicated I'm slowly getting materials now, meaning I'll be working to my last day before I head out. My parents think I'm being unreasonable partly because they think the job I'm doing isn't "real important" and they think that if it won't get done before I leave there should be no reason why I can't leave earlier. On top of that they're trying to make me feel guilty for putting my job over my family despite them knowing in advance my plans on working here for the summer. Any suggestions to convince them that I'm not being selfish but I still have responsibility to stay until the day I agreed and finish.</p>
<p>Neither of those questions are necessarily germane, but might help in how other parents suggest you handle it.</p>
<p>Me, I'm rather shocked that your parents don't feel you should follow through on your commitment. This is the message that most of us work hard to instill in our kids when they are younger, and here you are living up to that value... and experiencing grief because of it.</p>
<p>Is there a specific reason your parents want you home early?</p>
<p>I should have thought that simply stating to them that you've made a commitment, the department is counting on you to bring the project to a certain point, and that you believe you should - and want to - honor your commitment... is all that you would need.</p>
<p>One other side point that might sway them.... that you might not get a good reference from this job if you fail to honor your commitment.</p>
<p>Just turned 20 and yeah its paid. It's sort of an extension of my normal work during the semester, except this project is the main priority. </p>
<p>So I guess the other part I forgot to mention (yeah my parents are all that crazy), they're picking me up and helping me move out from where I'm living this summer. I'm about 300 miles away. My father said that would be fine earlier the previous week. I don't have a car so I'm dependent on their ride. They want me home earlier because the day they planned on picking me up, there's a religious event that my mom doesn't want to miss. I found out about said event this week.</p>
<p>Talk to your boss and see if there is a compromise position. Maybe someone else can give you a ride home or your parents can come and take almost everything except you and you take a bus/train home with the bare essentials after your work is done.</p>