It's okay- I think one of my old friends had this same problem too. Your parents- like mine, are probably old fashioned, so they don't understand as much as we do. I think there are two reason why my parents aren't making the computer and gaming in general a big deal: they know that games make me happy and that I moderate a site- which is also a big deal.
I think their attitude changed when they read my college essay: it was about how I met friends on a forum and how I had responsibilities online. Even my college counselor liked it when she read it- because of how unique this sort of topic was.
I was actually interested in the essay as I was writing it up. When applying for college, it really helps to use a unique topic for your essay when you start sending your forms to colleges. I'm almost certain that the reason I got into my top choice was because of my essay.