15 year old vegetarian guy who needs some advice...?

Question

I became a vegetarian in January. My parents were shocked but they eventually gave in and accepted it. Now my mom is starting to cry everyday and she says she just wants me to be a normal kid like everybody else. It makes me feel really bad because I am pretty much just like everybody else except I don't eat meat. She even said I might have to go see a psychologist because she thinks something is wrong with me mentally. What should I do she's making me feel so bad?

Answer 1

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a vegetarian, at all. I'm not but GOOD FOR YOU!!! You are growing and making your own decisions, and a good one at that if you believe it is for you. There is nothing wrong with you mentally, at all. You do not need a psychologist. This was a mature decision.

Answer 2

What made you become a vege

Answer 3

Your mother is weird.  SHE needs to see the psychologist, not  you.

There was a girl in my school who never ate meat.

So what.  We never even noticed until we had some kind of "hot dog day" or something like that.  She's still alive well and healthy today... with two healthy kids too.  So... whatever... let your mother freak out.  Just say to her, "Hey, pull yourself together, mom.  If you have a problem with it, maybe read some books on the subject and go to counselling, but leave me out of it."  You're 15.  Be a man.  Not long ago 15  year olds were running the household, out working the fields or in the factories... so don't let your mom cry baby all over you like that.  Tell her that 'normal' is substandard.

Answer 4

Don't be worried.  No one has ever been put away for being a veggie.  If you are telling the complete story and there is nothing else going on, it sounds like she is the one with the problems.

You are 15 and that is old enough to make the decision that you want to be a vegetarian.

Take her to www.meat.org and show her the video that automatically comes up.  Maybe then she will understand.

It doesn't matter what she thinks or says.  What matters is that you follow your heart and your intuition.  Don't let anyone tell you how to live your life.

Answer 5

She is very misinformed, hate to use the word ignorant.  Find some web sites on the benefits of being a Veg and have her read them.  And good for you!  Keep on truckin!!

Answer 6

my parents were the same way except my mom didnt cry about it. honestly, your mom is taking it way too hard. its not her life and she needs to know that what you're doing is helping you achieve a healthier lifestyle

maybe you should sit down with her and ask her why she dissapproves of it and work out the kinks. tell her why you became one (im assuming diet, enviorenment, and ethics) and show her a video, like Meet Your Meat, that will give her a real reason to cry and she just might see it from your perspective.

my mom does that a lot too. she feels the need to tell everyone she knows and it gets annoying. but be proud of the decision you made because its a good one

trust me, even the psychologist will agree with you.

Answer 7

She is a bit misinformed about this.  She probably grew up in a culture where eating meat was a must, so she views it as some sort of deficiency.  Explain to her that you are a normal kid in every way, shape and form, and that most people probably wouldn't even realize you were vegetarian unless you told them.  Almost all people have certain foods that they won't eat, so it's nothing unusual.  You'll just have to give her some time and let her get used to it.  Don't emphasize it, pretend like it's a non-issue.

Answer 8

Wow, that's a little bizarre. It's very common for teenagers to become vegetarian; I went vegetarian when I was 14. It's not such a big deal. It's just a diet; you're not doing something bad or crazy by not eating animals. Just because your mom doesn't agree with vegetarianism, she thinks you need to see a psychologist?? It sounds like she might benefit from seeing a psychologist, seriously.

It's possible your veg diet is causing your mom to think about her own food choices. Maybe she feels a little bit guilty that she eats meat, and she deals with this by lashing out at you and focusing the attention on you.

You could have a serious talk with her... tell her that you really love being vegetarian and you feel healthier. Be firm, explain that you're not going to go back to eating meat, but ask if there's anything you could do to make her feel better. Tell her that being vegetarian is really important to you and you'd appreciate it if she could support you. Good luck.

Answer 9

I think your Mom needs some help.  Being a vegetarian does not make you abnormal.  If she is crying over your choice of diet (a healthy one at that) then it's not YOU that has the issues.  A psychologist would laugh in her face.