Roles and expectation with parents
Expectations
Sometimes parents have very specific ideas about how they want their kids to turn out.
Parents may want their sons to be doctors or lawyers while their sons may want to be football players or film stars.
Some parents assume that their children will grow up to be straight, and may have a problem if their child is gay or lesbian.
Everyone has the right to choose their own path in life.
Of course parents occasionally come up with some good ideas so it's best not to dismiss their advice out of hand. Although they're old and wear terrible clothes, they usually have your best interests at heart.
Work to your own goals
Parents can be a source of pressure, particularly if you're still at school and living at home. They may nag you about not doing enough studying because they want you do well in exams, go to university and then get their idea of a really good job.
But for some people this isn't going to happen - maybe because they're not that academic, or maybe that's not the kind of life they want. If this is the case then let your parents know how you feel.
What matters is that you work towards your own goals.
Live your own life
Sadly there are some parents who, unless you get voted President of the World, will never be satisfied.
As long as you've done your best they've got nothing to complain about. You are an individual - it's not your job to live any kind of life but the one you want for yourself.
If they want you to succeed where they failed or to follow in their footsteps, put a stop to it.
Make them realise that you have your own ambitions.
Low or no expectations
If having parents with high expectations can be difficult, it can be just as bad having parents with expectations that are too low.
They may want you to leave school as soon as possible to bring in some money.
If you want to, keep on studying try to show them how your qualifications will benefit everyone in the long run.
