How to Have an Uncomfortable Conversation With Your Parents

Anxiety-inducing conversations with the parentals are a given, but how you handle them is a completely different story.

Read on for a few tips on how to make these awkward convos as painless as possible.

(via Unspalsh)

Don't Beat Around the Bush

Delivering difficult news or talking about something you know your parents don't want to hear doesn't get better by delaying it. Although this can be the hardest step, calmly start the conversation with a direct sentence that states why you are all in this dialogue.

(via Unspalsh)

 

Don't Blame Anybody Else

Starting a hard conversation by placing blame on others, whether it be your teacher, friend, or your parents themselves, won't help the situation. Take a deep breath and bravely admit what you are at fault for (if that's the nature of the chat). This will help set the conversation on a right path.

(via Unspalsh)

 

Don't Compare Yourself to Anybody Else

A parent's favorite saying seems to be: "If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?" Don't give them additional excuses to whip that phrase out during your conversation. If you confess something or express less-than-stellar grades, comparing yourself to others won't help your cause. Simply state what happened, own up to your mistakes, explain what you've learned from the situation and move on.

(via Unspalsh)

 

Give Them an Out

After delivering difficult news, it's always a good idea to give your parents an "out" to think about what you just discussed. This will help their feelings subside and also make everybody feel less anxious. After you've stated your case, simply say, "I understand this may be hard to listen to. Feel free to take a minute if you want to process it." This powerful phrase gives them the option to take a breather and not overreact.

 

Now that you know how to salvage a difficult conversation with your parents, read THIS to figure out how to save the most important relationship—the one with yourself!