I was unemployed for almost five months last year and never told my parents. Every time they called, I pretended I was still working. I even complained about fake meetings because I knew my father would immediately realise something was wrong if I became vague.
I eventually found another job and things are stable now, but I still feel guilty about lying. At the same time, my parents are ageing and both worry excessively. Telling them would not have solved my unemployment; it would only have created three anxious people instead of one.
Was hiding it wrong, or is there a point where protecting parents from stress becomes reasonable?