First Con Dilemma
Hi there all! This forum used to talk about a problem I was having. Now it does not. Due to problems within my family and the chance of moving soon, my plans have fallen through. Thank you all for your wonderful advice!
Thanks for the advise. My mom is totally ok with me going to the con & is very supportive of my decisions and interests, including my furry lifestyle (she's helping me pay for the materials & helping with the construction of my fursuit since I have no way of earning $ other than babysitting my siblings). I talked the idea over with my mom today and I now have a backup plan. I was unaware that my mom also had family in the area, and I would take the 40 minute commute over $300+ in hotel bills. Though my dad's family is closer, I would rather have to drive than not go at all. Thanks for the advise again ^^
Best of luck to you. Stay happy.
Glad you have a plan in order and have a great time at AC '12! I should be there, let me know if you ever want to hang!
~Kazam
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...and show no interest in my lifestyle
I'm surprised no one picked up on this. Referring to your budding interest in this fandom as a "lifestyle" is not a recommended method of bringing up a new interest among family--especially one that has a track record of being less than open-minded toward something they've never heard of.
This is supposed to be a hobby--i.e. "I like this (insert visual media here) and would like to see more of it", not some all-encompassing re-ordering of your life's priorities. That kind of talk will conjure up in any responsible (and some irresponsible) parent's mind, lurid mental pictures of completely-off-their-collective-rocker cults.
---PCJ
When I said "lifestyle" I wasn't speaking only about the furry fandom. I say furry "lifestyle" in a sense that i'm always trying to make it to local meets & such offline. That side of the family has a problem with who I am overall, because i'm not the "Conservative Christian Southern Belle" that they expected. What they got was an outspoken, non-religous tomboy who'd choose books over boys any day. I understand where they're coming from. I did originally bring it up as a hobby, but it evolved from that to hanging out with the local furs. They don't like that either. At this point, i'm not even sure if there's still a chance of attending a con this year due to other problems within the family. However, thank you for your advice.
I think you have a capital idea here. I'd recommend presenting the conversation to your father as such:
"Hey Dad, I was thinking. Have you heard of 'Anthrocon'? It's a convention they have every year in Pittsburgh- and the next one is in June 2012. It's something I'm interested in- lots of people in fun costumes, art, and such- and I was thinking we might take a trip there, you and I. I know that Aunt maybelle lives in Pittsburgh, so we could stay there.. and do some other things in the city, too. I hear Kennywood is nice, and the Heinz museum. What do you think about maybe doing that? Mom is cool with us going.[*1]"
Now you've suggested the time, the plan, some other things around Pittsburgh to do, and that it'll be time for you two alone to spend.. and you'd want to spend some time with him. (note: make sure to spend time with him at the con, and around pittsburgh- keep the family aspect going, and don;t abandon him for the con. there'll be more Anthrocons when you're more independent.
)
[*1] make sure mom is cool with this first, obviously, before making this claim.