Harper, a digital marketing consultant, financially supports her dismissive retired parents. An uncomfortable Thanksgiving dinner with her boss leads Harper to teach them a lesson about respect and the real value of her work.

My name is Harper, and I’m a digital marketing consultant. At 30, I’ve built a career I’m proud of, but my parents, Tom and Linda, don’t see it that way. Despite my success, they’ve never really taken what I do seriously. They’re both retired, and due to some poor investments, they lost their retirement savings. Now, I cover all their bills.

Every conversation with them is the same. They ask when I’ll get a “real job,” comparing me to my cousin Rachel, who’s a lawyer. They don’t understand the digital world, dismissing it as playing on the internet.

It hurts, knowing I work hard and support them, yet they don’t value my profession. But I’ve always tried to keep the peace, respecting them as my parents and caring for their well-being, even if it means swallowing their hurtful words.

A week before Thanksgiving, I called my parents to sort out the final details of their visit. As I spoke about their flight details, Dad’s voice cut through, “So, Harper, still making money by just clicking around on that computer of yours?” His tone was light, but the jab stung. I sighed, forcing a chuckle, trying to keep the conversation light.

“Actually, Dad, it’s a bit more complex than that. I manage major marketing campaigns online. It’s quite strategic,” I tried to explain, but I could almost hear his eyes rolling over the phone.

“Yeah, yeah,” Mom chimed in, her voice laced with skepticism. “But when are you going to settle into a real job? Like Rachel, maybe? Something stable and respectable?” Her words were a familiar refrain, but they still hurt. Every. Single. Time.

Changing the subject, I mentioned that I had invited my boss, Claire, to join us for Thanksgiving this year. Claire was a big deal in our industry, and she had always supported my career growth. “It’s important to me that you both meet her,” I said, my voice firmer now. “She’s been a great mentor and advocate for me at work.”

There was a pause on the line. I took a deep breath and continued, “I need this Thanksgiving to go smoothly, okay? It’s crucial that you both show some respect for my job when she’s here. Please, just no jokes about ‘playing on the internet’ this time.”