Your thoughts and feelings are important!

[Duke]

No matter how you feel or what's happening in your life, what you feel is important. If you have something to say then please be sure to say it, respectfully of course. I've been quoted as saying that respect is earned, not deserved due to status. I firmly believe this is the case but parents are another matter entirely. Not to preach to you, but if your parent provides for you, keeps a roof over your head and food in your tummy, then you owe them at least some respect. These factors should be the foundation for how you treat your parents and their actions should be the way that you round out the picture.

That said, if you feel uncomfortable in telling your parents the details of something that is bothering you, then find a friend or confidant that has been proven trustworthy. DO NOT confide in someone you hardly know, there are people out there who will take advantage of the situation. Also, please don't think that just because your parents don't ask the right questions that their not interested. This is a huge mistake and definately could not be further from the truth, at least in my case.

I had a conversation with my daughter today about getting to know what's going on in her life. She told me something about her I would never have known, and still wouldn't had I not accidentally asked her the wrong question. The reason she never had told me before was that she felt I wasn't interested which couldn't be further from the truth. Even though your parents were once children, they lose touch with some of the memories that actually shaped the people they have become today. This can be one of the biggest factors in why parents don't always understand what your going through.