I had a hard time with my mother when I chose to be a theatre major. I had to leave college with, quote, "Marketable job skills". But, one of the things I learned was that she didn't know anything about the theatre business. And, she's right out there with the general public. John. Q. Public thinks of theatre in terms of actors. If I am asked one more time if I am an actor, when folks ask me what I do for a living, I think I will scream. Whenever I tell them that I don't act, they get confused looks on their faces, as though trying to concieve of any other thing that someone would do in a theatre.
For me, I never really got approval in college, but as I've managed to stay employed, pay my bills, and even have some great experiences since then, she's finally come around. For her, I had to convince her that the idea of the poor actor waiting tables does not apply to backstage personnel.
-Centaura