Ever feel like your family don't care about your interests?
I have been trying for 7 years to find a hobby/interest that my parents would approve of and that interests me. I have so many things I would like to do, for example, gardening (too messy they say), art (pointless apparently), or maybe even sewing (it's too hard for you). After I'm done with schoolwork, there is nothing to do. Every single day I sit in my room, listening to music till I fall asleep. When I wake up I make tea and drink it, then go back to sleep. I wish I could do something important, but there's nothing I'm allowed to do. This has been my life for a long time now. I need help. ;-;
CockneyRebel
Veteran
Joined: 17 Jul 2004
Age: 50
Gender: Male
Posts: 116,905
Location: In my little Olympic World of peace and love
My family still don't care about my interests. Now that there's been a clash of cultures in my family for 5 years to this month, my mum really doesn't care about my interests. There was one time three years ago that I brought a library book over to my parents place to read. It was a book on Berlin. My mum asked me what I was reading. I showed her the cover instead of just merely telling her. She said, "Berlin....Eww." She doesn't know anything about Germany because she's afraid of that country because her dad was stationed in England during WWII. I don't know if Covid is a curse or a blessing. We're certainly having a long break from each other. I still phone her at least three times a week, being the bigger person.
_________________
The Family Enigma
So does anyone ever feel this way, or am I just over exaggerating!
... ... ...
I was born very creative and artistic...Sadly nobody in my immediate family fostered my talents...And i always felt invisible in my own home...I remember once when very little...Very excitedly, i showed my report card to my father--all straight As...And his response was: "I did not expect any less of you"...By the time i was graduating with honors, having ranked first academically in High School, my aunt practically had to force my parents to attend my commencement ceremony...No celebration for me...None whatsoever ...And that days photos clearly show that my parents did not want to be there...I overcame all that...I am NT, so i suppose it was the dynamics of my dysfunctional family... ...Anyway, i sympathize with your story...
funeralxempire
Veteran
Joined: 27 Oct 2014
Age: 40
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 29,209
Location: Right over your left shoulder
It depends on which interest. My brothers and dad have all dabbled in playing instruments over the years; my dad is a big car buff; my brother is pretty interested in history although not to the extent I am.
_________________
I was ashamed of myself when I realised life was a costume party and I attended with my real face
"Many of us like to ask ourselves, What would I do if I was alive during slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing genocide?' The answer is, you're doing it. Right now." —Former U.S. Airman (Air Force) Aaron Bushnell
... ... ...
I absolutely love photography
funeralxempire
Veteran
Joined: 27 Oct 2014
Age: 40
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 29,209
Location: Right over your left shoulder
Even if they think sewing is too hard, or art is 'a waste of time', do they just not encourage you or do they actively interfere? It's bad enough if they're discouraging but it's absolutely heinous if they actually prevent you from trying.
_________________
I was ashamed of myself when I realised life was a costume party and I attended with my real face
"Many of us like to ask ourselves, What would I do if I was alive during slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing genocide?' The answer is, you're doing it. Right now." —Former U.S. Airman (Air Force) Aaron Bushnell
I only told her the truth.
... ... ...
My Mom loves the Kinks...But her favorites were the Beatles...
I don't want my family to care too much about my special interests.
And I don't want my family bugging about it -- to me, it'll feel more intrusive than caring or encouraging.
They may inquire or request or support via providing something useful, but nothing more than that.
I thank the fact that most of my special interests does not manifests verbally.
_________________
Gained Number Post Count (1).
Lose Time (n).
Lose more time here - Updates at least once a week.
I used to run into this problem, but I learned a few things.
1) Take the initiative. It doesn't count as a real rejection unless you've directly expressed your wishes first, and then been shot down. For example you said;
Did you go to her and tell her "oh great you have art this year, well come to me anytime, I'd love to help you on your projects".? Ever see her working and go knock on the bedroom door and say "hey, can I help"?. Also consider that maybe she also has a talent for art, and didn't need that much help on her assignments, which are, after all, supposed to be created and completed by her.
2) A coin has two sides. What are your family members favourite interests? Do you go out of your way to participate in conversations about that with them? A lot of people will be put off if they go out of their way to talk about someone else's interests, but are never asked about their own in return.
Maybe your mom is interested in psychology, or social rights and justice, and that's why she can't appreciate people who treated other people badly - no matter how artistically talented they were.
[Think, Michael Jackson. Great music, slept with little kids. Not many people wanted to sing his praises.]
Same with your sister and dad. What do they love to do? Approach them, ask them to tell you a bit about it. Remember, if you can only give them five minutes of quality attention about their interest, don't expect more than five minutes in return.
3) Set an example . If they see you making an effort to relate to them, they might decide to make an effort to relate to you. Invite them in. Try "oh Mom, I just finished this new painting, would you come look at it? What do you think? Do you like it? What does it look like to you?"
4) Find like minds. If nobody's interested in talking about art in your current social circle, go join an art club, or get an art gallery membership. You'll find people there who are also seeking to find people to talk about art with.[b]
... ... ...
Sorry for intruding...All wonderful advice above...Are you on the spectrum...???...From your writing, you appear to be NT ...Please clarify...Thank you...
Now though, my mum has gotten all excited because one of my special interests is something I could turn into an actual career. But for the first time ever, I have hidden the other main special interest, because the one I'm open about is bonobos and ape evolution, but the one I'm secretive about is ASDs (no one knows that's an obsession as it is only pursued on the internet, and I've hidden books I've bought.)
... ... ...
No need to be secretive about ASD as your special interest...Nothing to be ashamed of...Quite the contrary, once you become an expert you can educate clueless NTs like me here in WP...Or you could start your own blog and generate some money ...Just a thought...
So ...
Remember that your family wants you to be happy and is pleased that you have found something that makes you happy.
To the extent they are able, they will want to share that interest, but some things may just not be bridgeable. Embrace the little corners they are willing to share, and try not to show frustration about the ones they just aren't grasping.
Remember that it is a two way street. My son has zero, and I am zero ability to show any enthusiasm for his sister's interests or mine or his dad's, so why does he expect us to show some in his? Ah, ours are lame, his are not ... but, the thing is, not to us. I'm just asking him to try, and definitely to keep the "lame" remarks to himself.
... ... ...
Nice way to put it...Thank you...
dragonsanddemons
Veteran
Joined: 19 Mar 2011
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 6,659
Location: The Labyrinth of Leviathan
The vast majority of the myriad interests I’ve had over the years, none of my family cares about (which I suppose is fair play since I don’t care about most of the interests they share). I get the nods and “uh-huh”s that clearly translate to “I’m only pretending to listen,” and sometimes even irritated sighs every time I start to talk, before I’ve even gotten a whole word out. I’ve learned to try to mostly keep my interests to myself.
_________________
Yet in my new wildness and freedom I almost welcome the bitterness of alienage. For although nepenthe has calmed me, I know always that I am an outsider; a stranger in this century and among those who are still men.
-H. P. Lovecraft, "The Outsider"
I purposely don't talk about my interests. I know they aren't shared, and if there's no interest in the listener there's no joy in talking about a subject for me. I actually feel a little uncomfortable talking about them, even if I'm answering a question. I say 5 words, and some part of my mind is yelling at me to shut up about it, even though I'm carefully just answering a question. My wife was always nice about it back when I would monologue, but she just has no interest in my main ones. We share other interests, and I have a wide variety of things I can happily talk about with her, but my interests are not on the list. I'm okay with that.
The thing is that you have to live your own life and your interests are your pretty own game. Your partner later may care or fancy them but your family will most likely only notice them and treat them as your own thing that somehow belongs to you.
@aDissapointment: Welcome here!
_________________
I am as I am. Life has to be an adventure!
Last edited by quite an extreme on 09 Jan 2021, 7:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Red Raid
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: 25 Dec 2020
Age: 21
Gender: Male
Posts: 47
Location: North Carolina, United States
Similar Topics | |
---|---|
Crush does not care |
20 Nov 2024, 12:34 pm |
Parent forced to put son in care as no gov support |
03 Nov 2024, 2:11 pm |
Family And Town |
20 Oct 2024, 10:19 pm |
Tired of unsolicited advice/criticism from family and friend |
30 Nov 2024, 4:07 pm |