A listener wrote in with this dilemma:
When I was in school I was very involved in what we now call “social justice” and dreamed of becoming a journalist. I was involved in protests and covered these issues for the student paper. Most of my friends were also like-minded.
My mother, who I can only describe as over-controlling disagreed with my interests and friends and holds a very dim view of the news media. Eventually I cut off all contact with her for the last ten years and we have only recently reconciled.
Now, after 15 years since my high school graduation Mom dropped a bombshell on me. She admitted that she told me the wrong date for my application to be submitted to journalism school in the city and that I was just out of luck as far as going that year.
These last years I’ve been working in a stable financial position locally but I still hold my dream of working in the news media close to my heart. Mom says she did a “good thing” because just look at all the journalism graduates who can’t get jobs now.
She destroyed my life dream and doesn’t feel bad at all for her sabotage.
I’m now looking at possibly leaving my job and going back to school to achieve my life’s goal, but the more immediate question is – Do I just let my mother’s actions go and try to get along? What should I do about all these hurt feelings and resentment?
