Excerpt from Chapter 12.
My parents just don't listen. How can I talk to them?

HOW CAN I COMMUNICATE TO MY PARENTS THAT I'VE GOT DIFFERENT BELIEFS THAN THEY DO WITHOUT GETTING IN A FIGHT AND GAIN THEIR RESPECT AND ACCEPTANCE?
— Kimberly, age 17

Since your beliefs represent who you are, it is understandable that your beliefs are very important to you and that you want your parents to respect them. But here's the tough part. Your "different" beliefs can be threatening to your parents. Even though your beliefs represent your becoming a unique individual, your parents may see them as a rejection of some of the values that they hold sacred, or they may think they are harmful to you in some way. The fact that you may not see your beliefs in any of these ways is part of the conflict. However, the common values you do share with your parents can help you through your differences.

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