(CA) Advice Column: Keep communication open with opinionated vegan daughters

November 11, 2008

At least these parents are trying! If my parents even thought about including Tofurkey at Thanksgiving, I'd faint!

[Calgary Herald - opinion]

Q: My three grown daughters all became vegans in their mid-teens.

They're also animal-rights activists -- I think they're fanatics,

refusing to celebrate Thanksgiving with us, with a "dead bird"

(turkey) in our home, though I've prepared a tofu turkey for them.

My husband and I try to accommodate their diet and are sensitive to

their activities, but they're increasingly rude and ugly, condemning

everything we eat, and that we kill flies and earwigs in our home. One

daughter has gone into debt having her aged, pet rats treated for

acute illnesses. They make time each week to feed feral cats, but

cannot drop into their grandfather's nearby nursing home, or visit

other elderly relatives.

.....

A: The positive note is that you've raised strongly opinioned women.

It's a trait that likely emanated somewhere from within your family --

and may be butting against contrary opinions.

Ask them why they're distancing from you. Tell them that family

members can have different beliefs and still love and respect each

other. (If, instead, you secretly hope that they'll one day abandon

their tastes and causes, they resent your disapproval).

-- full story:

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