Having a Healthy Relationship With Your Parents

Our parents gave birth to us and raised us. They took care of us, ousted the boogie man, kissed our boo-boos, helped us with homework, taught us right from wrong and all the other things required to protect us and help us to become responsible adults.

But now you're 30-something.

Does your mother still call you to make sure you're eating right? Or to give you a weather report and remind you to wear a warm coat today? Or to worry that your cough is no better, you'd better go to the doctor?

The daily phone calls and unnecessary advice is beginning to annoy you. But how do you break your parents habit of taking care of you?

Avoiding your parents is not the answer. Depending, obviously, on your parents, there are a few strategies that you can try.

For example, if you know your mother is going to call you at 8 am sharp to tell you what the weather is like outside and what you should wear that day, call her five minutes earlier. Ask her how she slept, how the dog is and tell her you just watched the weather forecast ten minutes ago and she should definitely wear warm clothes, in case she goes shopping. At first she may think she forgot to call at the regular hour and inform you about the weather, but after a few days she'll realize that she doesn't need to call you every morning with a weather report.

Try to remember that, although we've grown up, our parents still see us as their children in need of help and advice. But, in spite of all the good intentions, an over caring parent can be a problem. So what do you do when the only hobby your parents have is to go on taking care you? If nothing else works, than you may have to find another hobby for your parents. It might take a while, but you can’t give up! Keep an open mind and think about options like: get them a pet, sign them up for dancing lessons, buy them a membership to a health club – this way they’ll be busy, healthy and also tired and they might give you a break.

It's possible to have a healthy, adult relationship with your parents.