What don't your parents understand about you?

What I want to do with my life.

That if I haven’t talked to them in a few days, I’m still OKAY, just a bit busy.

I’m not as smart as they think I am.

That I’m gay.

I lie to them about my drug use.

All of the pressures that I have to deal with as a Dartmouth College student.

My parents are of Asian heritage….They don’t approve of the values I uphold due to my Americanization.

My personal philosophies on life, religion and politics. We never really talk deeply about anything. It’s almost a business relationship.

I am not a virgin.

Why I’ve made some bad choices. (But I don’t understand either.)

My choice of English as a major, my lack of interest in finding a high-paying job and my choice to be an atheist.

Yes, I could be an investment banker if I wanted to…but NO, I DON’T WANT TO!

That I’m, sadly, not their little girl anymore.

They don’t understand that I’ve changed a lot since I’ve been at college.

That pushing myself to my limit actually makes me happy.

My sense of humor.

Why I’m not trying harder to look for a job after graduation.

That I really don’t know what I want to do after college.

Who I am.

That perhaps near the top of the list of things I value in this world is them.

That I am a growing, independent person who isn’t still 10 years old.

They don’t understand that it feels weird to go home. In a sense, Dartmouth has become more of a home to me than where I originally came from.

My mother doesn’t understand that I am comfortable not going out to parties all the time.

They should call me more.

That I actually listen to what they say and appreciate their advice.

My extreme sense of ambition.

That I have become less enthusiastic about certain things since high school.

Why I joined a Greek house.

My liberalism.

That any other parents would die to have me as their kid.

They may know that I drink, but I don’t think they understand the extent of it.

That I don’t know if being in college right now is the best thing for me.

That I have no clue what I’m doing.

I’m not as tough and capable as I put on.

The pleasure I can find in isolation.

I can like women as well as men.

How much I crave approval.

My love for reading.

That I am depressed.

Most things.

If you have kids someday, what will you do differently than your parents?

Be more chill.

Make religion a more active part of life.

I will not force my child to attend religious services.

No spanking.

Stay together.

Tell my children that they are beautiful.

Give them more privacy.

Teach my children to be fluent in other languages from a young age.

I will be on time to pick up my kids from various events, practices, etc.

I will have a stronger focus on spiritual life and make sure my children don’t make money too high of a priority or distraction in their lives.

Allow them to drink alcohol earlier under my supervision.

I can only dream of being as good as my mother.

Take them hiking.

Homeschool them.

I won’t be an obsessive blowhard, that’s for sure.

Talk about sex sooner.

Stay married.

Not give so much power to the oldest sibling.

I’ll probably let them have video games.

Like most people, I expect I’ll come to realize my parents did more right than I originally thought.

Less physical punishment.

Less athletic pressure.

Nothing.

I won’t let them quit piano.

Not talk on the phone during long family car trips.

Let them have more freedom. The world is not as dangerous as parents everywhere think it is.

I will try to be their friend, not just an authority figure.

I won’t compare siblings.

Fight less with my husband when the kids are watching.

I will not assume that they don’t understand, notice or know things just because they are young.

I will not lie to them.

Establish more boundaries.

Talk more in depth about making good choices.

Be an active listener and make sure that my kids know that I am there to support them in any way possible.

I will never assume I know what they want.

I hope my parents will be around to help raise them!