How To Have a Healthier Relationship With Your Parents

Take responsibility in your relationship with your parents, and convince them you are as mature as you know you are.

Step 1: If you're not living under their roof, avoid asking for their advice unless you intend to use it, or for their money unless you can pay it back.
TIP: If you are living at home, cooperate with parental rules if you want your opinions to be taken seriously. Defying them will not get you what you want.
Step 2: Take responsibility for yourself without shifting blame, and listen to your parents' concerns.
FACT: Did you know? As many as 450,700 missing children each year are runaways.
Step 3: Maintain your sense of humor and don't take on whatever guilt you feel they project toward you.
Step 4: Communicate clearly and share your feelings. Demonstrate mature concern and honesty, and avoid immature temper tantrums.
Step 5: Picture them as other adults, and conduct yourself appropriately as you would in any other social situation.
Step 6: Adopt a friendly tone and explore subjects beyond the family dynamic. Don't judge their intelligence or their motives.
TIP: Do unto your parents as you would have them do unto you.
Step 7: Appreciate your parents for all they have done. Ask them questions about their lives so that you can objectively see them as people, not just as your mom and dad.

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