Parents just don't understand

Parents are the strangest phenomenon in this whole world. I just don't understand what drives them to do and say what they things they do/say. I wish that for ONE day I could understand their motives and then maybe I wouldn't be so broken hearted all the time when they treat me like a leper.

All I want is to be loved by my parents and not have it be conditional love. But it never has been that way and it never will change. I will never stack up to their perfect picture of what their family SHOULD be if I hadn't ruined it.

No, I didn't ever do anything in my childhood, young adult life that would warrant this feeling. I am just non-conservative and have different ideas of the world. I am still goal oriented and a successful individual. I never did drugs and I'm not a slut who sleeps around and has 12 kids by the age of 23. I don't do any of these things. I've never been arrested, I've never murdered someone and gotten away with it. I haven't done anything that people would consider to be BAD.

My only crime?? Being different. I still graduated from college in 4 years. I did well and went into a profession that is admirable. My mom is a teacher, she should understand this. I love my job and wish to be a teacher for quite some time. I give a lot of my free time to the track team because I love it. I could be doing way worse things with my life. Yes... I'm having issues finding a job since I got back from Korea... but this is not my fault. It isn't like I haven't TRIED to find a job. I've applied for literally everything. In fact... I've applied for jobs that I never wanted to do. I had to really suck up my pride and apply for jobs at Home Depot, Sports Authority, etc. I don't want to work at these places BECAUSE I could have worked at them without the degree I now possess. BUT, life is what it is. And you have to do what you can to make things work.

But do I have my parents love and acceptance?? Nope. Sure don't. They have started a new trend as of late where they invite my brother to dinner or lunch and they don't invite me. I find out about it LATER. And it hurts me every time. They know I don't have plans and if I did, they just have to text and find out. But they don't.

Is it so wrong that I want to be included in my family?

I have received much advice on this subject and I have been leaning toward just cutting them out of my life for a period of time so I can take a break from the constant hurt that they subject me to. I've never done this in the past because I always convince myself that I am the one at fault and that I am being a bad daughter by fighting with them and trying to defend myself. I'm so finished though. It's getting too painful to keep going.

This day, April 5th, marks the beginning of the end. I'm tired of being treated like I am some crack addict who steals money from her family and sleeps on their driveway.

I'm too good for this shit.