Vocation Frustration?

[DiscerningCatholic]

So, maybe you fellow discerners get this...or maybe not. I don't know. [list=1]
[*]My parents seem against my desire to enter religious life.
[*]My parents seem against my discerning religious life.
[*]My parents think that I'm too young to discern religious life (even though I'll be 16 on Sunday).
[*]My parents seem to think that discernment retreats are a waste of time and money.
[*]My relatives just think I'm crazy.
[/list]
My friends are supportive, but none of them say that they feel called to religious life. They all say this: "Well, I'm, like, open to religious life if that's where God, like, wants me, but I really don't think that He's, like, calling me there." (I.E., all of them want to be wives and mothers.) That's the American dream, right? A college degree, a job, a house, a car, a husband, and kids? All of my discerning friends live in different states... downside of making friends at a nationwide youth conference. So I'm feeling really alone with this whole discernment business. (Yeah, kind of like that guy.) Have any of you dealt with this? Any advice?

[NonNovi]

I totally get this, and I don't think I'm the only one here But I haven't told my parents yet what I might want to do, I never said I'm discerning. We have enough discussions about the faith to know they wouldn't like me becoming a priest though.

Discerning takes time, so it doesn't matter you're just 15 or 16. Maybe it will take another 10 years before you decide to enter the convent (if this would turn out to be your vocation), only God knows. If your parents seem to be against it, just don't talk about it with them too much. Try to discern "in silence". Try to build up a life of regular praying. Keep exploring the faith and different communities (or the one you might have chosen already). Keep asking God and Our Lady to help you, to help your parents and to give you an answer. He will answer (but not how and when you want it)!

[littlesister]

[b]It's no fun alone, but hold onto what you know in your heart is yours, and live one day at a time until the right time comes. Families have a way of coming around once they meet your community and see how much joy is to be had there. (The best my father could do for years was that he "supposed it was better than a bum marriage!" He came around, too.)[/b]