Things You Can do If You Want to Improve Your Relationship with Your Parents ...

Notice that I said listen to their advice, not take their advice, at least not if you are of age. You do not have to do what your parents advise you to do but you should at least give them the courtesy of politely listening. Just listening to their advice and viewpoint can help to improve your relationship with your parents. Tell them thank you for sharing their thoughts with you. It is smart to consider their advice though. They have lived a lot longer than you and actually do have some wisdom to share with you.

If you want your parents to stop being in every detail of your life, stop sharing every detail with them. It is as simple as that. Of course you want to share things with them but be selective. Try not to share things that will make them worry. If they cannot help you and you don’t want to listen to their advice, there is really no need to share a problem.

Visit your parents and call them. Parents love their children and are generally happy to see and hear from them. A lot of times it makes their day. Just make a little effort to connect with them. It may improve your relationship by leaps and bounds.

Be respectful of your parents. Sure, you may not always agree with them but that doesn’t mean you have to treat them unkindly. Even if you have some differences with them, you cannot change them. You only have one set of parents so you might as well make the best of it. Do your part to have a good relationship.

Do your best to remember your parents' birthdays and Mother’s Day and Father’s Day as well as other holidays. It usually isn’t the gift you choose but the fact that you do acknowledge them. Even a phone call or card can go a long way. And a gift is always a nice thing to give. I am sure most parents treasure gifts from their children.

You know, as hard as it is to believe, our parents have their own lives and their own interests. Be interested in them. Ask what they are reading, doing, or how things are going with their job. It is a great way to get a conversation started, too. And it gets the focus off of you.

See your relationship with your parents as evolving because it is. As you move into adulthood, it will change. They will become more of a source to look to for guidance rather than instruction. Your relationship with your parents is almost like a close friendship after you have moved out on your own. Try to treat it as a friendship, with all of the kindness and consideration you do other friendships, and it will likely take a turn for the better.

Your relationship with your parents is something that you can have an impact on, too. What was the turning point for some of you to have a better relationship with your parents? I would love to hear from you.