Parental Troubles

Okay, so you finally told your parents you are a witch, wiccan or pagan only to have them not take it as well as you hoped. They have forbidden you from practicing or anything of the sort, or some other action. Either way they don't accept what you are. This is a problem that I didn't face myself, but think is important to discuss.

Find out what you can do. Do they just not want you practicing on the property, or do they not want you practicing at all. Regardless of the answer, RESPECT IT. This is very important, they are your parents and are doing their best to protect you from what they perceive to be a danger to you.

If they don't want you to practice your path, ask if it's okay that you read into it a bit more and do some research on the subject. Invite them to study with you so that they know what you are learning, can supervise what you learn, and perhaps in time they might be a bit more understanding of it.

If they refuse to learn with you, or allow you to learn there are other things you can learn that will help you in the future. I'm not going to encourage you to go behind their back, though it is possible to do so if you are creative about it. I want you to RESPECT your parents wishes, even if you're not happy with what they have said.

Below are a list of things you can study and do that your parents (no matter how against it they are) should be okay with that will also be useful in the craft later on. You can tell them why you want to learn/do them, but if they are completely against anything to do with the craft, then it's okay to keep it quiet.

Study:
Sewing, Cooking, Gardening, Carving, Art (in any form), Music, Classic texts (like Iliad, The Odyssey, and others that include some mythology in them).

Do:
Herb Garden for kitchen spices ONLY, Charity Work (no matter if it's with their church, you are still helping people), Environmental Work, Meditate, Work on Visualizing, Nature Walks, Gardening.

Adjust these lists based on what is available to you, and what your parents will allow you to do. With Meditation, I only want you to work on focal and not quests because then you would be practicing. Be as open with your parents as reasonably possible as you can, and remember to respect their wishes. It won't be long before you'll have your own place and can be as open about it as you like, or remain in the closet if it'll cause too much problems with your parents. The choice is yours.