How to Win Arguments Against Your Parents

Arguing with your parents is no fun. Usually when something has come to an argument, as the child in the parent child relationship- still living at home, you have already lost. Parents do not argue about things that they are willing to let you do. However there is a way to get them to be more understanding of your needs.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Patience
• Kindness
• Honesty
• Trust
• Respect

1. Be honest- Parents hate being lied to. Honesty builds trust. Your parents want to know that you will make the right decisions, when they are not around.
2. Understand where they are coming from. The sooner you sincerely understand and show it the sooner they will treat you as an adult. Do not do it just to get what you want, believe me parents can see through in-sincerity quick.
3. Create a solution that works for both of you. If your parents do not want you hanging out at a certain location, ask why, talk about it. In most situations, I bet your parents think that location brings out the worst in you, or bad things have happened there before. If you are not in a bad environment then you have less a chance of getting into trouble yourself. The reality- Your parents actually care about you. SOLUTION- #1- They drop you off and pick you up at an earlier hour when fewer problems occur (you get to go). SOLUTION- #2- You go somewhere else that is similar but has fewer problems.
4. Tell them how you feel, do it politely and with respect. As a child we are looking for respect from our parents. We only want to have our parents trust us to make the right decisions. This means we have to prove to our parents that we can make the right decisions.

Tips & Warnings

• The goal is not to win but to create a favorable solution for both you and your parents
• Just because you think it is a good solution, does not mean your parents will.
• This type of negotiation is something that will come in handy later in life, so develop it now, find solutions.
• Keep talking with your parents about life. As soon as you shut down or no longer talk, they worry about you. Keep them informed.
• The right decisions are not the ones we like.
• Create trust with your parents