“Sometimes I really don’t like my parents. I don’t think they understand me at all! I don’t know what to do- they’re driving me crazy! Help!” ~ James

hey James,

Parents can be hard to get along with sometimes, especially when they don’t seem to see your point-of-view. But I applaud your effort to work on this problem! Here are some things you can do:

1. Talk to your parents. I know sometimes it may seem absolutely futile, but they need to know how you feel. So ask them if you can sit down and have a talk sometime. Schedule a time if you have to, but make sure you have their full attention.

Then, tell them how you feel- make sure you give specific examples of when you felt they weren’t listening to you or weren’t being fair. Don’t complain about all the things you think they’re doing wrong, but explain what’s bothering you so the three of you can figure out a solution.

2. Pray. Pray for your parents and yourself. Ask God to help you have a better relationship. He really does care about those details of your life, and He’ll be happy you asked for His help.

3. Be patient. It’s probably been quite a while since your parents were your age, so they’ve likely forgotten what it’s like. Not to mention, a lot has changed since then! So explain it to them and be prepared to explain things again, if you have to– but do it with patience and respect. They’ve invested a lot of years in your life so they deserve your respect.

Keep in mind, though, no matter how good your relationship with your parents becomes, there will still be times when you don’t agree with them or when they drive you crazy. But hopefully these tips will help those times become more rare.

So start talking, James, and be prepared to listen, too. That will put you and your parents on the path to a better relationship.

~ Halee

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