Dear Mom & Dad,

It’s time to start letting go. I am eighteen and I have the opportunity to start experiencing life. I understand that you are worried about all of the typical parent fears like drug use, sleeping around, changing religious views, and changing morals; however, I have been a good kid for eighteen years and I have never acted out drastically like some teens. I have always been honest with you. That isn’t going to change. I just need you to stop holding me so close because it makes me want to go further away and, now that I am legally an adult, I can.

Instead of abusing your involvement in my life (because I’m still living with you until school is over), you should take this opportunity to slowly let go of your overprotective tendencies. Instead of “laying down the law”, try gently helping to guide my decisions in a positive direction while letting me make them by myself. I am devout in being myself, and nothing any of my peers can say will change that.

Life is made up of experiences and until I have some of my own, I will never have truly lived. You need to trust that I love and respect you both and I will never try to disappoint you.

Much love,

T, age 18