Fear or worry
Talking with your parents
Having a hard time talking with your parents about an important issue? Check out these tips.
Talking with parents isn’t always easy
Even if you get along with your parents, it doesn’t mean that conversations always go well.
There are lots of things you might need to talk with your parents about including your mental health, sex and relationships, situations you need help with or fights with friends. There could be a million things you might need to talk to your parents about!
But at the same time it can be hard to open up to them. Maybe you’ve had a bad experience trying to talk to them in the past. Or you might not have the words to express what you’re thinking or how you feel.
The good news is we’ve got some tips for you that might make it easier!
I’m afraid they’ll…
Whatever it is that you’re worried might happen - you’re not alone. Lots of other young people have trouble talking with their parents too sometimes.
We’re not saying it’s all your parents fault. Parenting is a tough gig and no parent is perfect. But as you grow older and start to become more independent it means the way your parents relate to you changes (or not).
Here are some of the common reasons why it may be hard to talk with your parents:
You might get into trouble
You don’t know how they’ll react
They won’t listen or hear you out
They’ll get sad or be disappointed in you
You don’t want to bother them with your problems
They don’t believe you or your side of the story
One or both of your parents are part of the problem
They might get angry and yell or argue with you
They say they’ll make the time to talk but they don’t
One or both of your parents are hard to approach
They’ll offer advice when you just wanted somebody to listen
They won’t take you seriously and they’ll dismiss what you say
They’ll ask you a bunch of questions you don’t know the answers to
What your parents might be feeling
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that your parents think and feel things just like you! They’re human too and they might try really hard to support you but it’s not quite working. Maybe they don’t know how best to respond to you.
Here are some things your parents might be feeling when you start talking to them about something really important or something that’s upsetting you:
Sadness
Guilt
Frustration
Confusion
Protective of you
Even if it feels like you’re not making progress, talking with your parents is usually better than not saying anything at all.
Be prepared for these three common responses
Parents usually love and care about you very deeply and this clouds their thinking and how they react to you.
Remember a time when you loved a person so much that it hurt? And if you saw them in trouble or in pain you felt upset for them? Parents can feel this way about you too.
Because of this they may respond to you out of their own emotions.
Problem: They might minimise your problems. Sometimes parents might think that what you’re going through is ‘normal teenage stuff’ or ‘teenage hormones’ and because of this they don’t really take what you say seriously.
Try this: What your parents say about ‘teenage hormones’ might be true, but if you think it’s more than that, then explain what you’re struggling with and how it’s affecting your life by giving some examples.
Problem: They make it about them. Parents might start reflecting on the part they play in your life and might blame themselves for your problems. They could say “I’m such a bad parent. I must have let you down for things to get so bad”.
Try this: Rather than talking about what your parents need to change, tell them you need help to make some changes in your own life. Talk about how they might help you do that. Try to focus the conversation on what you need to get better or feel better.
Problem: They might guilt-trip you. From the outside you seem to have everything they believe you need to be happy. For example, when you say you’re not happy and might be depressed they could say “You can’t be unhappy! You have a good life, a roof over your head and what about all your friends?!”
Try this: Explain that even though you have a ‘good life’, a roof over your head and lots of friends, you’re still unhappy and this is a sign that something isn’t right and you need help.
Having a great conversation with your parents
While every family and parent is different, there are some things you can do when talking to your parents to help the conversation stay on track.
Try these tips to help things go more smoothly:
Plan what you're going to say and try writing it down beforehand
Try talking when you feel calm, but if you can't then start the conversation anyway (there may never be a 'right time!)
Rehearse the conversation with a friend or counsellor so you feel more prepared
Choose a private place where you won't get interrupted and you feel safe to talk
You don't have to have all the answers. Simply say "I dont know" and then together you can figure it out
Take a break if things get too intense. You might have to have the conversation over a few days or weeks
Have a friend or sibling by your side for support if you're really nervous
Try finding a time to talk that's good for everybody
Stick to one or two main points as this will make it easier to keep the conversation on track
Starting the conversation
Often the hardest part of a difficult conversation is starting one!
Sometimes it’s difficult to know what to say first because emotions are running high and you’re worried how your parents will react.
Start by saying what you need from them e.g. “I need to tell you about a problem I’m having and get your advice” or “I have this situation that’s really bothering me and I just need somebody to listen and be there for me”.
Check out our Expressing Your Feelings article for more tips on how to open up and talk about it.
If starting a face to face conversation is too hard then try writing it down in an email or text to break the ice.
Everybody needs support and help sometimes
It’s ok to need your parent’s help and to ask for it – we hope these tips can help you start the conversation.
This content was last reviewed 21/06/2018
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