"Why do adults think we should do what they say?"

The ongoing conflict between older and younger generations isn't a new phenomenon. Almost every household faces the common question, "Why do they always want us to do what they say?" We've all heard the phrase at least once in our lives, "Listen to me, I've been through this, I know what's best." Often, we perceive this as an infringement on our freedom. However, understanding the psychological and social factors behind this could help mitigate the conflict.

*Love and Fear: Older adults have seen more of the world than us, and they're aware of the world's imperfections, downfalls, and hurts. They don't want their children or younger people to go through the same pain they've experienced. So, they try to guide us through the "safe path" they know.

*Control and Pride: Some older adults believe that respecting their experience means following their advice exactly. Based on their upbringing, they see disobeying their words as disobedience.

*Generational Gap: The world is changing rapidly today. Older adults might not understand the current technological world. So, they try to apply the successful methods from their time to ours.

Many adults measure success through traditional things like a stable job and marriage. When we think differently and try to take a new path, they see it as a risk because of that. This isn't something to be solved with an argument. The best thing to do is communicate. Explain to them why you're doing something and what results you're hoping for. Show them your decision-making skills through small things. Don't completely dismiss what they say, think about the logic behind it.

"Even though we all live in the same world, the glasses through which we see the world are different." We don't necessarily have to do everything adults say, but there are many lessons we can learn from their experiences. What we need is to find a balance between those experiences and our new ideas.🫡