not sure how to tell my family

[colinmackay]

Pretty sure I couldn't disagree more. If you come out while driving, the whole point is that you are in control of the situation. You're controlling the vehicle, you're controlling the conversation. The advantage is that if your parents have a tendency to walk away from awkward conversations, they have a harder time doing that while barreling down the highway at 60 mph and it's your foot on the gas. The idea that things will get so heated that you will drive into a flock of school children in a fit of emotional blindness seems, in my humble opinion, to be of the utmost in stupidity. Coming out can be emotional, yes, but if you are so emotional that getting into an argument with your parents makes you unable to drive a car, then you probably shouldn't be allowed to drive at all.

Make sure you get your speech ready, and be sure to leave time at the end for some Q and A. Parents typically have some questions upon learning the news. It's your job to stay calm, even if they don't. Also, be aware that moms always cry. They just do. A strategically placed box of tissues in the back seat can make things a little more comfortable for her. Good luck!

I'm not sure how to respond to this. I'm utterly shocked on so many levels.

Firstly, you should never imprison anyone in a car like this, for that's what it is. If they have a tendency to walk away from awkward conversations then let them and find a different way to pass the message along.

Frightening them (if they recognise you're emotive and aren't concentrating enough on driving) while coming out to them is hardly going to endear them to the idea. Or are you hoping for the Stockholm Syndrome effect to kick in?

Second, you are NOT in control of the situation. It's a false sense of security. I've been there (not for the coming out speech, but equally emotive as I was being manipulated by my psychopathic, and I use that word most judiciously, ex). I ended up going faster just to end the situation. Luckily it was quiet.

In another example when I was driving while very emotive (the night I left my ex) the bits between leaving my front door to arriving in my parents street are a blank. That was 9 years ago and it still scares me that I can't remember the journey. The only bit I remember is arriving in my parents street and wondering how the hell I got there.

Finally, just because an ordinarily reasonable and rational person can get so emotive and/or distressed that they are unfit to drive on some individual occasions should not bar them from driving at other times so long as they recognise when they are unsafe to drive.

If I get into that state I know to pull over and wait to calm down or I don't start the journey at all if I am in or think likely I'll get into that state.


Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk