[Matthew Shea]

coLLege kid07, when I read your first post, the first two words I would have used to describe you (now please stick with me here) are "entitled" and "arrogant". I know this because I've been in your shoes and have been exposed to similar situations and have reacted in similar ways. At the time, I felt completely justified in reacting the way I did, but as I mature, I look back on those situations with a strong feeling of "boy, if I only knew then what I know now I would have handled that a lot differently."

Now I'm not saying that you intended to come across the way I expect you came across to your parents, but it seems to me that you indeed came across that way regardless. Moving forward, the very next step toward the enlightenment you desire is to realize when you're feeling that way and trap those feelings. Don't disregard them, but try to understand them and give people more of the benefit of the doubt. You walked into this encounter with your parents with the attitude that there was nothing they had to say that could possibly be of any use to you. This is evidenced by the way you shut yourself off from what they were saying. That's the arrogance. You also clearly felt entitled to refuse this job without expressing a clear reason (or at least none was expressed here). Please try to understand and realize that and understand that your parents have been around the block a few more times than you and have their own perfectly valid needs and desires to look after.

Having said that, I certainly wish you the best and I wish you the utmost in wisdom as you relate to your parents.