I am a mom of a kid around and abouts your age (a bit younger but still...). Personally, I would prefer to know what was up with my guy... We have been through a very rough year including a number of weeks in hospital because he wasn't telling me what he was doing and what was going on.
I realize your pride is important to you, but one "failure" does not make your whole life. You learn from it, pick up, go on, and its sometimes easier to do even with your parents along than without them.
I learned a lot about my son this year, and some of it wasn't very nice stuff, but we are a lot closer now, and he has learned some things and is moving forward and doing a lot better. We are all doing a lot better.
If that's a no go, for whatever reason, hopefully there is a plan B where your clients have someplace to go. Let me know if there is something I can do to help with that.