How to Tell Your Parents

Replies: 9 - Last Post: Apr 8, 2013 11:25 AM Last Post By: BeritK

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Feb 24, 2013 7:50 AM
Posts: 15

How to Tell Your Parents

When do you tell your parents (especially Mom) that you are leaving on a bike tour of undetermined duration? How do you bring up the topic? How do have you responded to objections and fears?

redwhitewine

Feb 24, 2013 6:17 PM
Posts: 8,583

Tell your family you have just come out of the closet, that you failed your most important exam at Uni and that you might be going to be charged with theft from an employer. Once they pick themselves up off the ground tell them you are going on a bike ride and would love some help with the research.

NewIslander

Feb 27, 2013 7:34 AM
Posts: 2,452

Just don't leave it to late in the peace. Just bring it up like anything else you do. Why get worked up about it. Your mum is a big worrier by teh sounds of it. Its her natural disposition. She probably likes to worry. Or at least doesn't know how to not to and doesn't realise how annoying it is. You can turn it to your advantage. She might buy you some travel insurance or provide some other useful sort of backup.

ralphnhatrang

Feb 28, 2013 1:34 AM
Posts: 314

Leave a note to let them know when you'll be back.

SkinnyBiker

Mar 1, 2013 4:29 AM
Posts: 35

Even harder, how do you tell your wife?

hammockweaver

Mar 9, 2013 2:44 PM
Posts: 2

As a mom who is into bicycle travel i would be thrilled if one of my children told me they were doing this. Like any other undertaking - whether it be going to college or getting a job in a far away city, reassure your mother that you know how to take care of yourself and that you are resourceful, I'm sure your safety is her main concern. If that doesn't seem reasonable I would go with redwhitewines idea, tell them something so wild that when you present with the bike travel plan they will be relieved!

clemens1992

Mar 11, 2013 8:59 AM
Posts: 5

ive had the same problem before 5 months, there is no special advice wich makes it easier, and also after you told this, you wont be undestand by your parents. they love you and dont accept, that you are able now to go your own path. i just can tell you my expierence, i didnt discussed with them wheter i do my journey or not, i answered there questions and tried to be as kind as p[ossible, i think your parents will understand you first when you left home, its on you wheter you have power to fight against them. for me it has been realkly hard, but after succeeding it is a really undescribeable feeling. i wish you the best luck...

MrRipio

Mar 11, 2013 3:56 PM
Posts: 61

Make sure you leave your spare parts somewhere they can find them to post out if you are in a third-world country where parts are unavailable.

true_north

Mar 17, 2013 3:00 PM
Posts: 273

It wouldn't hurt if you have already done a Bike trip or two before, even if it was only for a week or two Then your folks would have some sort of clue that this is something you really like doing - and that you have developed the skills to do it without them worrying. Not that they won't worry, of course, cuz that's what parent do!

BeritK