22 Things That Happen When Your Parents Don't Understand Your Job

"So, you work on the internet... how?"

1. They ask LOTS of questions about your job, but you know they still don't understand what you do for work.

youtube.com

Them: "So you... make these pages?"

You: "Uh huh."

2. They'll mispronounce the name of your company in new and exciting ways each time they say it.

BBC America / Via onceupona-promo.tumblr.com

How do I say the words again...?

3. Because they aren't sure what you do all day, they end up doling out super generic career advice.

Casual Friday Productions

"Just work harder and you'll get promoted. But also, don't work too hard." Solid.

4. Or giving you "great" ideas to use for your job.

NBC

5. They get an extreme sense of pride when they figure out how to google your job.

Warner Bros. / Via reddit.com

And then they'll try to ask you questions about that googling, which always ends very well.

6. When you try to explain EXACTLY what it is you do, their eyes immediately glaze over.

New Line Cinema

7. So you've resorted to using visual aids to try to explain your job...

NBC

"See this website? I work on it. In an office. Like a real job."

8. ... But no matter how much you explain it, they're still inevitably confused.

Comedy Central

9. When you meet your parents' friends, you end up explaining your job in the simplest terms you possibly can.

Nickelodeon

Because you know they have the same understanding of your job as your parents do.

10. Since you have a cool, "unique" job, they start to think they're totally cool by association.

Paramount Pictures

Which is like, duh, true.

11. And they'll start slinging around "cool" lingo to try to relate more to you.

ABC

Dad, don't... OK, yes, it's very "Hufflepuff," thank you for reading my Harry Potter piece.

12. Your parents assume that because your job doesn't sound like any job they know, this is just a "temporary gig."

NBC

13. "So, have you thought about grad school?" is a question you've been asked.

memegenerator.net

Mom, I did go to grad school, remember? That's why I have THIS JOB now.

14. They worry about you making money, because they assume you make fake money at your seemingly fake job.

HBO

WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?! Do you want to see a pay stub? Like my landlord needed?!

15. And they've definitely made fun of your job, because they can.

ABC

16. You've hidden the fact that you're super excited about something work related, because you don't want to go into explanation mode.

NBC

17. You hold your breath whenever someone asks your parents what you do for a living.

LOGO

Hold up, lemme get some popcorn because I REALLY am going to enjoy hearing you explain this.

18. If you work from home, they assume you're doing nothing at all and interrupt you all the time.

NBC

Mom: What are you doing?

You: Working.

Mom: Wanna go to the store with me?

You: I'M WORKING.

19. Your parents tell people you have a job that you really don't have.

Nickelodeon

"Erin is a publisher of books." Well, no, not really, no.

20. And the only time they get really excited is when you get a promotion or more money.

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Because those are things they actually understand.

21. They assume that since you have a "hip" and "weird" job, that you'll know how to fix everything they don't understand.

Channel 4

I write for a website, so therefore I know how to fix their hard drive.

22. And that rare moment when they stop asking questions, and accept that you have a job they'll never understand.

HBO

And that's OK!