My (M 26) parents (M 65) (F 60) disowned me because of my choice of career - now my mom wants to reconcile

I got kicked out by my parents a few years ago because of my choice of career. I'm a cinematographer. When I tell people that I got kicked out because of my occupation, they always think I went into something drastic like porn or something. But nope. I'm a filmmaker.

Some context - my parents are African immigrants (Nigerian dad, Kenyan mom). I have three older siblings. The oldest is a doctor, second oldest a lawyer and third oldest an engineer. I was supposed also to into engineering (structural). I studied it in college. My parents were dead set on me becoming an engineer like my sister.

A lot of African immigrants who come to the West want their kids to have jobs like those my older siblings have. When I graduated, I told them I was going to try my hand at filmmaking. When I was in college, I dated a chick who was going to film school. She was an editor and she introduced me to filmmaking. I fell in love with it and began learning as much about it as I could. That summer I worked my ass off and bought myself some equipment and just started shooting. Everything and anything. It's amazing how much you can improve at something when you do it over and over again. Even shooting things as mundane as flowers made me a better cinematographer.

I began gaining ability with the camera and during college in my free time, I started shooting stuff like music vids for local artists, corporate videos, short documentaries. By the time I graduated I felt confident I could make a living in this trade.

I was so scared to tell my parents of my decision. My dad had been talking to his friend (also an engineer) and they got me an internship at his firm. Around the same time I was offered to shoot a feature length documentary in a few countries in South Asia for six months. I chose the latter.

It didn't go down well with the rents. We had a big argument and they kicked me out. They told me I was wasting my time with filmmaking and that it would leave me penniless and on the streets. At my sister's wedding (a year later) they refused to talk to me. Acted like I didn't exist. That was the last time I saw them.

When I got kicked out I had just graduated from school. I didn't have much. My brother (the lawyer) took me in and I stayed with him for 16 months while I worked in order for me to get my own place. I'll never forget what he did for me. My other two siblings also thought I was wasting my time with filmmaking and but he was the only one who was so supportive and had my back throughout everything.

Things are good now. I'm financially independent. My career is in a good place. Getting a steady flow of jobs. I'm also engaged and get married next year.

The other day I got a message from my mom, asking how I was. She also apologized for everything that went down. She wants us to meet next weekend. She said my dad is too proud of a man to say that he wants me back in his life, but that is certainly the case.

tl;dr

I haven't decided on the course of action I'm going to take. I'm inclined towards meeting her. I do miss my parents. Even though I am still hurt and angry towards what happened. And smug too, I'll admit. They thought I would fail. Almost prayed for it to happen. It didn't. How do you guys think I should approach this thing? How do I approach the meeting with my mom? I've been thinking about it over and over again. I'm nervous.

tl;dr: Mandatory summary/question

Submitted February 21, 2020 at 02:05PM by stephandkdhater https://ift.tt/2PcUXg2