Re: Educating parents
It's so inspiring to read these threads! Shows that we really can evolve generation to generation. When I was younger, my father was extremely strict. The emphasis was on school, school, school, and essentially having no life outside it. I wasn't allowed to participate in after-school sports with my friends, couldn't go out after dark (this was especially horrible since here 'dark' is 4:30pm in the winter), essentially couldn't do a lot of things I saw my American friends doing. Once I got into college, I started finding my voice and standing up for what I wanted for myself. It was the hardest habit to break, but I forced myself to stop asking for permission, and made my own decisions, right or wrong. For the next few years, it was more or less war between my dad and myself. Fast forward about 6 years later, and my father is a much changed man. I have earned his respect and trust, and he is much more aware of women's rights and independence. He doesn't 'command' me to do anything anymore, rather asks for my advice and gives suggestions. The best part is, I can discuss most everything with him now, and he treats me on equal terms. There is an equal exchange of respect, and to me, that makes all the difference.