Parental control
Question
My parents are constantly trying to control who my friends are. They have problems with my gay friends and keep trying to stop me seeing friends who come from what they think are 'broken homes'.
It's getting so bad that I'm starting to feel depressed about it all, do you have any advice on how I can stop them being so unkind?
Answer
Problems with parents can be difficult to resolve, and right now your parents' attitude seems unreasonable to you. To get a better understanding of how to improve things it might be best to try seeing things from their point of view, no matter how much you disagree. You might want to consider how to prove to them you're an adult who is able to take responsibility for her life, including the company you keep.
Just telling them this might not work. In every sense you need to show you've matured into an individual they can trust to live her own life. If you try listening to things from their point of view then they in return might give you a chance to discuss the issues both calmly and sensibly. For example, challenging their attitude towards homosexuality needs to be done constructively. Enabling them to meet gay people who don't conform to the stereotypes they hold in their minds can only help in this respect.
Hopefully, the more you involve them in your life the easier you'll find it to gain the trust, and the space, that you deserve.
Updated: 12/04/2010
Question answered by Our Relationship Advisors
