What's a Nice Way to Put This?

[KD Burke]

While I agree that education is the best option, in my experience people in general, and parents particularly, can be resistant to being schooled by someone of your age.

If that is the case, then I would submit that your best option is to:

1) Turn 18;
2) Move out of the house;
3) Dress as you damned well please!

In that order!

Until then parent's house, parent's rules.

[S Mitchell]

Is there a possibility they're worried you'll be bullied or harassed for wearing the kilt in a 'non-kilt context'? (I'm not saying you would be but the world can be a scary place for parents trying to keep their children safe.)

[Father Bill]

Let's see now. Let's imagine.

It's what you Americans call "Veterans' Day" and you manage to wangle yourself a gig piping at the local high school. Of course you kilt up. Afterwards, you mingle with some of the students (all of whom think you're cool because you're a piper). On the way home, you stop off at some little shop to make a purchase, then you go home and change.

The high school calls on you to pipe their team onto the field for some special game. (Perhaps you forgot that you offered that.) The folks are impressed.

No discussion, just an experience. After that, you wangle some more opportunities. Slowly the folks get used to the idea. One night you wangle the chance to pipe at a Celtic pub. Your folks come along of course, and they see how popular the piper is.

Slowly the folks get used to the idea that you're known around town as "the piper" and of course they're proud of you for that.

And things evolve. I always recommend evolution over revolution.

Father Bill+
Retired School Principal who's dealt with a lot of kids and parents for a lot of years.

Good luck with it, man!

[ratspike]

What sort of people are your parents? Do they tend to be pretty open minded and liberal or painfully conservative? Not their political leanings, just them in general. If they're the former you might have a shot at helping them understand. If they're the latter, maybe not so much. Living in a very red-state-conservative suburb, I've had a lovely opportunity to experience the way that some people have issues with what one might choose to wear.

Also, how old are you? If you're short timing it, it might in all honesty be easier to just wait them out. Once you're out of the house there's no more parental dress code.

[tulloch]

Welcome from the highlands of Central Massachusetts. You may just have to wait. It is a pity to have disagreements with one's family. When you're on your own you can do much more what you want.
I strongly recommend that you take up piping, that you do it every day and that you wear the kilt when you do. Its only right.

[TheOfficialBren]

Lol Father Bill, I give you an "A" for effort. "Wangle." "Wrangle" is the word, blessed sir.

Piper, I have to agree with the many experienced voices here. You are under your parents' roof and must abide by their rules. One thing to consider might be your presentation. How are you approaching them when you broach the subject? (Rhetorical question.)

[Richrail]

Another way to approach is get Dad involved, attend Highland events and festivals. My wife and I home schooled our four children so we were very involved with projects and what not.

[Father Bill]

Lol Father Bill, I give you an "A" for effort. "Wangle." "Wrangle" is the word, blessed sir.

"Wangle" (which admittedly much rarer) has the implication of negotiation, whereas "wrangle" has a more aggressive implication attached to it.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wangle

[WillowEstate]

Lol Father Bill, I give you an "A" for effort. "Wangle." "Wrangle" is the word, blessed sir.

I beg to differ, Good Sir; in the UK, where English originates, "Wangle" is exactly the correct word in the context Father Bill uses it as in "to arrange for". "Wrangle" is more associated with some kind of (usually minor) dispute, as in this case, it might be applied to the OP's original question.

But then the USA and the UK are two nations separated by a common language!

[Bob C]

While I agree that education is the best option, in my experience people in general, and parents particularly, can be resistant to being schooled by someone of your age.

If that is the case, then I would submit that your best option is to:

1) Turn 18;
2) Move out of the house;
3) Dress as you damned well please!

In that order!

Until then parent's house, parent's rules.

Good advice here. Just wait out the next four years instead of spending them beating your head against that wall.