Very true, @illinoismom4. Thanks for the tip!
I was disappointed last night when my younger daughter, home from college, told me she may not be able to spend as much time with me because she had other plans. She got upset when she heard the disappointment in my voice. I told her that people around her will always be disappointed or disapprove what she is doing at one time or another, but it is not her job to make all of them happy. What’s important is for herself to be true to herself and be happy with her decision.
It is the same for you. You can listen to everyone’s input, but at the end it is yours and your parents’ decision. Your parents’ decision because they are paying for it. As far as how to handle your good intention relatives and friends, you will need to find a way to cope. I didn’t know it’s how I handled unwanted conversations until someone told me…I would become silent and walk away, no matter how much someone wanted to engage, I would just be silent.
“She got upset when she heard the disappointment in my voice”
Mom and Dad aren’t on the same level as “people”. It’s a lot different to not make “all of them happy” and wondering how much Mom and Dad really are hurt. Don’t guilt your kids unless you really mean to.