Can you negotiate? Do you close down when you and your parents disagree? Take this quiz to see how you rate. Choose only one answer to each question.
You come in an hour after curfew (time really got away from you) and mum and dad are on the doorstep ready for an explanation. You would:
a) walk right past them, go up to your room and shut the door saying nothing b) listen to them for one minute, then yell, 'You can't tell me what to do' and really get a shouting match going c) listen to your folks (probably they were worried sick that something had happened to you) and agree to talk about your curfew the next day when everyone has slept on it and is a bit calmer.
Your parents cannot stand your new boyfriend or girlfriend. It's so bad you can't even bring him or her home for a lazy evening of pizza and videos. How do you handle this? You would:
a) stop taking your boyfriend or girlfriend home and no longer tell your parents who you are seeing b) have your boyfriend or girlfriend over anyway and put up with the rotten atmosphere c) ask your parents why they don't like your boyfriend or girlfriend, then explain why you do and hope they can see your point of view.
a) accept your family's dress code but feel totally embarrassed and start to resent them b) take your mum and dad out and show them some clothes that are not too radical and hope they accept that sometimes these clothes are okay, for example when you are out with your mates c) ignore your parents, get some radical gear but have lots of fights at home about it.
a) back off but really resent her for it b) do it anyway. c) sit down with her and explain why you want to do it; and try to reach an agreement (maybe that you wait until your next birthday) or compromise (promise to take the earring out when you go out with your family).
a) fly off the handle, tell them how unfair they are and then refuse to talk to them b) try to talk with your mum and dad to find a couple of times a week when you can stay on the phone for longer calls and agree to a five minute limit on other nights c) be unhappy but go along with the restriction anyway and head to the local phone box to make longer calls.
You're really happy with your room being disorganised but your parents keep on nagging you to tidy it up and especially take all the clothes off the floor. How do you sort this out with them? You would:
a) tell them you'll clear up but really do as little as possible and hide the dirty clothes under the bed b) clean up your room but feel that your privacy has been interfered with and that your room is no longer comfortable c) talk it over with your parents and reach a compromise (maybe agree to put the dirty clothes in the laundry basket but leave the other stuff where it is so you know where to find things and your room still feels like your own space).
a) think about the problem and suggest to your parents that you keep the music low while they are around ( or use head phones) but play it as loud as you want when they're not b) decide your parents just don't understand your music so you turn it down a fraction then back up again when you think they won't notice (they do!) c) disagree with your parents and try to explain why the music needs to be loud to sound right.
a) explain to them that you're not able to quit right now but agree not to smoke at home b) try to quit and ask your dad to support you on the QUIT program c) tell your dad that you quit but keep on smoking in secret.