Yeah sure, you “taught” me things when I was younger and innocent. But all scholars, tutors and teachers - in your case “teachers” - know that things cannot be learned if they are not applied. I think that’s what you guys don’t understand. Sure you can tell us things, but how will we know how hot the fire is if we don’t get close enough to feel or touch it? We WILL make mistakes, but it’s all a learning process. How can we grow as people if you don’t give us room to? How can we live if you say no? How will we know of the world’s ways if you keep us from them? You as parents should know that there is ALWAYS room for mistakes. It reinforces what you teach and empowers you. One wonders why you don’t use it to your advantage, but rather criticize us for them. Don’t dwell on the mistakes that we, as GROWING young adults have made and will make. Instead, show us how to deal with the consequences, because we can’t take back or fix all of our mistakes, but there is always something to learn and take out of them. I’m not saying pat your child on the back; if you disapprove, let them know! But don’t forget to show them how to clean up after themselves. And most importantly, don’t let your pride get in the way of being a parent. Yes, you may and will tell us the same things over and over and over again, but ultimately it is still our life and our decisions, but that doesn’t mean we don’t respect you. We will always take what you want for us into consideration, but we won’t always listen to you because, again, we have to experience things on our own to truly understand. So when you say, “you hurt me” because we didn’t listen to you, what you really mean is “you hurt my pride”. Hey buddy, we’re all going to grow at some point. Don’t let your pride blind you and cloud your judgment about what to do next as a parent. You help guide us on our path, but you aren’t our path. You set rules, but you aren’t THE rules. And yes, some mistakes will be between us and God, but even God understood/understands the importance of free will. It is essential to the growth of a person. So next time, if you want to be hurt, hurt when your child is suffering. Hurt when they are hurting,cry when they do, not because they didn’t listen to you, because there are more important things in your child’s life than YOUR rules and your expectations. There are more important things than their obedience and your pride. This isn’t about you anymore. You gave that up when you decided to have your child.