<p>“But I don’t know how to get my parents to care what I want.”</p>
<p>I’m sure they care - but perhaps if you can articulate their concerns more clearly to us (why exactly do they want you closer?), we can offer advice on how to increase their comfort level. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that wanting you nearby is not irrational. It’s natural for parents to want to be able to see you occasionally, be there in an emergency, and to want you to build a network locally that you might come back to permanently some day, etc…If you blow them off and don’t acknowledge that they have possibly legitimate reasons for wanting you close, it will be harder for them to hear you when you talk about why you need to go elsewhere. (And this is from a parent whose kids are both plane rides away!)</p>