Dealing with family jealousy--does this sound legit?

Question

My dad has two engineering degrees, is successful, has a good career (although he isn't fond of it), a nice home, etc.

I am going to school three hours away this fall and ever since day one he has been completely against it. Not only does he discourage my school selection but he also openly "downs" my majors that I am looking into (which actually interest me unlike his engineering job that he hates). He always tries to talk me in to majoring in Business which I have told him on several occasions *I* hate!!! Today I finally started to realize that perhaps he doesn't want me to excel and become something of myself? He really takes a lot of pride in his intelligence and his fancy degrees and job and all of that. I honestly think that he doesn't want me to leave and get an education and become more successful than him. And why else would he discourage me in choosing a major that I love? Can't I like what I do, even though he doesn't?

So, do you think that I am reading him right....?

Answer 1

i've been in situations where others did not want to see me excel either. DO YOU! anything else and it won't be you no more. i wish you well. your dad did him, now you do you.

Answer 2

You need to tell him, it is not his choice, and too respect what you choose. If you want to major in something, go ahead, he is not there to choose. Now, if say you dropped that major and had to like start all over, then yes, he should be against it. But if that hasn't happened, then no he should respect that.

That's my opnion.