For context, I recently finished my university studies. A few days ago, my parents and my siblings attended the grad ceremony.
I have always been aware that my family doesn't really know how to have fun. That day, I brought up something my school sent me about how students are encouraged to use public transport instead of private cars. I thought it was a nice initiative but then my sibling and my father went on a whole tangent of how bs that is and how tiring public transportation is, not in a debate-ish manner but just a negative rambling.
It was a small matter but it made me realise me and my family had nothing in common. My parents couldn't even pretend for one evening during my day of achievement and instead kept arguing over insignificant things. A friend of mine gave me and orchid and I was admiring it. Then they asked me why she wud give me a flower and that it would just die. All those small things added up and it really brought my mood down and I completely shut down when I was supposed to be celebrating. I attempted to make things light by introducing my friends and their families with mine. They didn't even talk a lot. Nobody smiled in the pictures except me.
Then they started going on a political tangent on the way back. I added a comment from the recent news that actually mattered but I got talked over by my loud know-it-all dad. Then I again, attempted to change the topics by saying one of the friends I took a picture with got a 4.0 GPA and how smart she is. Then they are like, what's the point of all those grades. Degrees are just a waste of time and money that doesn't matter at the end, which I disagree with.
I had a blast with my friends though, but when I got on the car with my family again, I just wanted to sink into my bed and cry. How do I deal with my family? Do I just ignore it and let it go or should I confront? I'm worried it will become a big thing out of nothing
Edit: I forgot to mention. I wanted to go somewhere nice and have dinner but my family decided it's too tiring and unnecessary to go out, so I reluctantly agreed with them to just eat somewhere near and boring. Which is kind of a slap in the face but I guess I don't mind it too much