Question: I just moved home for the summer...

Independence/checking in= You are still under their roof, so still their rules, even if it is for two months. I'm 21, and to this day I still have to tell my mom/dad where I'm going, who I'm going with, who's driving, and when I'll be back, if I'm not back at that time, believe ME there will be calls!

As for education, they're stupid for that one. I'm Special Ed. major too, and not a day goes by when I'm thinking: this is good, I'm doing it for the kids. Hey it's a low paying job but so rewarding, let's see Kobe Bryant try and teach a class and see who really deserves the millions! Just leave that one alone, I mean because I am pretty sure there is no way around trying to get them to "cope" with that.

Now for the parents in general: vent, Vent VENT!!! If it's to a friend, a BF another sib which is always the best, or even a phy. My school offers free therapy, and before I went home, I went to them to talk about my mother, whenever I come home, even if it is for the weekend,we always end up getting into it. I went to see a Phy, and she just told me what to do and helpful hints. Luckily my father and I don't bump heads so if my mom's at work, I don't have to give him an exact play by play, I'll just say "Going out with John" and he says "okay". Find an outlet to deal with them, like read a Special Ed book right in front their face! lol.

I'm dealing with the same thing and talked to my older sister about it asking if our parents were as annoying when she moved home for the summer as they are to me. The answer is yes. She told me the only way it would get better was to talk to them about it. I'm not the type to have a sit down conversation with my parents so when I went back to school last weekend I called home and told my mom how I was feeling. I didn't mean to make her feel guilty but I was very honest with her saying that if they don't stop nagging me I won't come home next summer and spend as little time home as possible during breaks because I don't want to deal with this. I would understand if I had drug problems, no direction or was a total screw up but since I'm not I made it clear that they had to understand how unreasonable they were being. It ended with they had a choice of me being miserable all summer and therefore them being miserable (no one wants to be around a Debbie Downer) or them laying off me and accepting what I want to do with my life and if I need help to step in. It worked I've actually gotten through 2 dinners with them and haven't wanted to runaway and hide. I'd suggest this approach if you can. Good luck and remember school is only a short time away. Thank god!

I know exactly what you mean, I had to deal with it for three summers during university. What I suggest is that you sit down with them and explain how you are feeling and just let them know that you have spent this last year as an independent woman not living under their roof and not having to check in all the time with them. My parents realized that during the year they didn't need to know where i was at all time, but it took them about a month to realize that they didn't need to check in with me 24/7 while I was at home. Of course you are going to have to make some compromises on how you live your life as well since you are living in their house, just be honest about what time you will be coming home at (thats what was my mothers biggest issue). As for what you want to do with your life? I had the same thing as well, I am in international development and my father thinks its the worlds dumbest degree and that i'm wasting his money. What you have to do to get them on your side is really explain how and why being a special education teacher makes you happy. Because in the end thats what your parents should want for you. Tell them how you love your classes and that you think special education is over looked and you want to change that. Not everyone is going to agree that this is what you should do in your life, and especially since your parents probably wanted you to be a doctor or a lawyer (thats what my parents ambition was for me). But in the end you have to be happy with your life and if that means becoming a special education teacher then just go for it and then hopefully your parents will see how happy you are and hear it in your voice and accept that. and a tip as well...I stayed in the town i was going to university in one summer and it was the best summer of my life.

Hey! I feel for ya. I think we are all going through that. I want to be a special education teacher too! I think the reason no one is responding to this is because it is hard to figure out what to do. talk to them=fight. ugh.