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Getting Along with Parents 171
If you already havetold her that you don’t like the clothes and she still buys them, maybe
this is her way of telling you she’d like you to dress differently. Or perhaps she’s trying to save
money because she can’t afford the clothes you really want. If this is the case, would you be
willing to earn your own money to buy clothes? Talk to your mom about it and see if there’s
a way you can make that happen. Another suggestion would be for your mom to give you a
monthly clothing allowance equal to what she spends on you already. That way, she wouldn’t
be spending any more money than she is now, but the difference would be that youget to
pick out your own wardrobe. In either case, talk to her and see what you can work out
together. The important thing is that you understand each other’s feelings and treat each
other with respect. I hope this helps!
In friendship,
Terra
My parents still treat me like I’m
seven
’
even though I’m seventeen!
Hey Terra,
How do I get my parents to see who I really am? They treat me the same way they did when
I was seven. I’m a junior in high school, and I’m a totally different person, but they don’t see
that. All they see is the picture on top of the TV of a dorky, toothless second-grader who did
everything they said.
The Real Me
Dear The Real Me,
Parents who have a hard time letting go need help to see that their teens aren’t little children
anymore. Once their eyes are opened, they’ll adjust their behavior and start relating to you as
a young adult. Here are a couple of ideas for helping your parents get to that point:
- Suggest that your family participate in a parent-teen communication workshop.
These are often offered through schools, counseling agencies, community colleges, youth