Bonnie Bai, G10, RDF International School

Parents always want their children to be what they want them to be. In most parents’ minds, study is the priority task of their children until they graduate from college. That’s why parents require their children to spend all their time on studies. When their children do something unrelated to study, the parents will stop them and pull them back into their studies. Parents always say that what they do is for the child’s good, and they never consider whether the children are happy or not.

Some people may say the age gap between parents and children is one of the main reasons for the above-mentioned family issue.

Normally, people of different ages think differently, but it is not the cause of a pushy parent. There is an age gap between my parents and me, but I can feel their love and our family relationship is admired by many people. Some people may say this is because I am sensible and obedient. But it is my parents who do the most and change the most in this loving and harmonious relationship.

In the summer vacation of my first year of high school, I suddenly wanted to change my hair color. I wanted to dye my hair with a bright color. I told my parents this idea that night. Though my father was reluctant to say yes, I persuaded him to take me to the barbershop. I dyed my hair red and I was so happy!

A few days later, I regretted it. I found I looked too impulsive, and this color was not a good match for clothes. So I told my father I wanted to dye my hair back to black. When my hair color came back, I asked my father why he didn’t oppose me at the beginning. He said, “Young people think differently, times are different, and adults need to learn to change. It’s normal for teenagers to have all sorts of ideas, as they’re just trying to find a style that works for them. What parents should do is to get involved and know what they are experiencing. Loving our children is not about controlling them; it’s about changing ourselves.”

I am lucky to have this kind of enlightened parents who care about my feelings and my choices. I hope more and more parents give more respect to their children, stay involved and push themselves to be better guides.