My parents are out of there mind!

LoyalistRevolt · Post by **LoyalistRevolt** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:11 pm

Well I was working on hacking a dreamcast controller for my dreamcade and my mom comes running upstair and shoots off about how this is a was of time and how I shouldn't do it in the house and what not and so and so....This usually happens once a week but this time she told me Give up modding or move out.....WTF I'm 16 move out were I just quit my job so I have no cash WTF does she want me to do....I need help finding an answer but to stop modding is out of the question!

Tibia · Post by **Tibia** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:14 pm

At 16, I'm not entirely sure she can kick you out. Is there a garage or a shed you can work in for a bit? The weather's getting warmer, so it wouldn't be too bad. It'd get you out of the house for a few months, at least, and maybe your parents would calm down.

Can you possibly show her Ben's page? I know he's exceptional, but he is actually making these things to sell. Maybe if she sees what some people are doing with this, she might understand better.

Post by **bicostp** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:35 pm

Just tell her "It's called a 'hobby'. Hobbies are for fun, not necessarily because they're constructive." As long as it doesn't interfere with things you have to do (like school), what's the harm?

Seriously, there are a lot worse things you could be doing with your time than making stuff. For example, drugs, felonies, and jumping out of airplanes.

She should be happy you're expressing creativity with a soldering iron on a circuit board instead of a spray can on a brick wall.

Do you have a table outside you can work on? Maybe one of those folding banquet tables?

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:37 pm

Tibia wrote:At 16, I'm not entirely sure she can kick you out. Is there a garage or a shed you can work in for a bit? The weather's getting warmer, so it wouldn't be too bad. It'd get you out of the house for a few months, at least, and maybe your parents would calm down.

Can you possibly show her Ben's page? I know he's exceptional, but he is actually making these things to sell. Maybe if she sees what some people are doing with this, she might understand better.

Tibia makes a good first point, but even more so with the second. Show her Ben's page, sure, but I think you can take it even further than that. Show her exactly what these skills breed, and that it's a start on a path for advanced electronic engineering, especially if that's what you want to do for a living. Even if you choose to go a different way, a hobby that requires such dedication and skill is a great thing to throw on a college or even job resume. Whether any of this is true for you at all, it's still the kind of crap your mom will want to hear.

Now, if your mom is going anal because, say, you're devoting too much time to modding and your grades are not where they should be, that's something else entirely. But kicking you out is a bit... extreme.

LoyalistRevolt · Post by **LoyalistRevolt** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:46 pm

bicostp wrote:Just tell her "It's called a 'hobby'. Hobbies are for fun, not necessarily because they're constructive." As long as it doesn't interfere with things you have to do (like school), what's the harm?

Seriously, there are a lot worse things you could be doing with your time than making stuff. For example, drugs, felonies, and jumping out of airplanes.

She should be happy you're expressing creativity with a soldering iron on a circuit board instead of a spray can on a brick wall.

Do you have a table outside you can work on? Maybe one of those folding banquet tables?

I've been looking for one but the thing is I want a tall table so I don't have to keel I'm a big guy and it kill my legs when I have to keel for like 4 hours on end...

WhatULive4 · Post by **WhatULive4** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:48 pm

My only question is, could she possibly be right? Instead of doing homework are you playing with consoles? Or did you quit your job because you were modding something?

If there wasn't a reason for her to freak out she probably wouldn't. Then again, sometimes mothers can be crazy (first hand experience).

soundwave · Post by **soundwave** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:49 pm

Do something completely irrelevant to modding, simply to piss her off, then say "I'm either going to do this, or go back to modding, but either way you can suck my d***"
This is the way I'd go about it with my mom, but then again, after around 6-7 years of BS I don't leave many blanks to fill in with her.

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:54 pm

LoyalistRevolt wrote:I've been looking for one but the thing is I want a tall table so I don't have to keel I'm a big guy and it kill my legs when I have to keel for like 4 hours on end...

Get a chair or stack the table on something (wood, boxes, another table). Chair is probably most comfortable.

HBN · Post by **HBN** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:57 pm

Wow, your situation sounds familiar. I know somebody in the same boat.

The problem is, she CAN kick you out. But not on the streets. She has to turn you over to the state. If she kicks you to the streets, thats a felony, call the cops. If your gonna end up not home, make damn sure she gets the same deal.

I know that sounds harsh (maybe?). But I believe in "an eye for an eye".

If you want to get REAL mean, when your 18, you could sue her for the emotional distress caused by the whole deal.

I'm not that mean. Some people are.

If you need anything else, I'll do what I can to help.

Aguiluz · Post by **Aguiluz** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:25 pm

What is her favorite hobby? Use it as an analogy.

HBN · Post by **HBN** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:30 pm

Aguiluz wrote:What is her favorite hobby? Use it as an analogy.

That could backfire BADLY (Depends how "mental" she is). Use with caution.

Website · Post by **Life of Brian** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:31 pm

Why does she care if you're modding stuff? Surely there's more to this story.

Soundwave, you're joking, right? Otherwise I'd slap you if you were my kid.

LoyalistRevolt · Post by **LoyalistRevolt** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:46 pm

Ok I'll tell you the story short version..Had a job..treated me like crap quit picked up modding made some quick cash and made some cool stuff...Mom thought I was been lazy kept yelling I kept ignoring do my school work just I always fail spanish...Stopped trying to pass...Other that that I make Bs and Cs... Came into my room to day using flux looked like smoke threatened to kick me out if I didn't stop...because of her yelling didn't notice the iron nearly burn a hole threw my leg...got pissed went out to buy tool for more stuff...think I'll spend the night at a friends how of a week or so....

Soundwave: a little to mean for my taste

HBN:To much time and money and I would feel bad for the rest of my life.

Aguiluz · Post by **Aguiluz** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:50 pm

HBN wrote:
Aguiluz wrote:What is her favorite hobby? Use it as an analogy.
That could backfire BADLY (Depends how "mental" she is). Use with caution.

Use EXTRA CAUTION. But analogs mostly work!

Tibia · Post by **Tibia** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:07 pm

Parents tend to place a lot of stock in grades. Have you already pointed out that you're doing well in your other classes? I'd still show her Ben's site, and take in CTFan's advice as well. If you're doing well in Math and Science especially, play up on the engineering idea. Like he said, even if it's not your plan for the future, it's still a logical dream.