2008 Woodie Awards
Editor's Forum
A chat that changed my outlook on life
By: Juliana Kung
Issue date: 3/25/04 Section: Opinion
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After spending my winter break at home in Macau, Special Administration Region (SAR), I found that the relationship between my parents and me has changed; we're more like friends now and our relationship has never been this good.
I had an OK relationship with my parents growing up. However, I was mostly afraid of them, not because they were strict or abusive (they never were), but I guess it was some sort of respect or feeling of inferiority toward them.
My parents have given me an awesome and memorable childhood, especially after my sister was born. With a sister I had a companion, someone I would fight with at times, but who I loved to death, no matter what.
My relationship with my parents became worse in my early teens. My parents' attention and affection became so overwhelming to me, making me turn away from them.
It wasn't like I wanted to leave home because I've never thought about that, but I just couldn't seem to agree with them on anything and we had stupid little fights every once in a while.
I had my little silly strategies, which I thought were some genuine ideas back then, to go against my parents' will.
When I was 14 years old, I wanted to quit playing the piano after I'd been playing for nine years. My parents didn't want me just to drop it, because they said it would help build my determination later on in my life (which it really did).
My strategy was to do badly in school, so my grades would drop, and since my parents cared about my studies the most, aside from my health, they might let me quit.
It worked. My parents gave in, but so did I. I picked up playing the piano again and it's all because of one talk my parents and I had, which I will never forget.
They told me that I was at a mature age and responsible for my own actions and behavior. I was being too childish, my parents said, for giving up my studies to try and get what I wanted. They told me that I have to finish whatever I've started.
I had an OK relationship with my parents growing up. However, I was mostly afraid of them, not because they were strict or abusive (they never were), but I guess it was some sort of respect or feeling of inferiority toward them.
My parents have given me an awesome and memorable childhood, especially after my sister was born. With a sister I had a companion, someone I would fight with at times, but who I loved to death, no matter what.
My relationship with my parents became worse in my early teens. My parents' attention and affection became so overwhelming to me, making me turn away from them.
It wasn't like I wanted to leave home because I've never thought about that, but I just couldn't seem to agree with them on anything and we had stupid little fights every once in a while.
I had my little silly strategies, which I thought were some genuine ideas back then, to go against my parents' will.
When I was 14 years old, I wanted to quit playing the piano after I'd been playing for nine years. My parents didn't want me just to drop it, because they said it would help build my determination later on in my life (which it really did).
My strategy was to do badly in school, so my grades would drop, and since my parents cared about my studies the most, aside from my health, they might let me quit.
It worked. My parents gave in, but so did I. I picked up playing the piano again and it's all because of one talk my parents and I had, which I will never forget.
They told me that I was at a mature age and responsible for my own actions and behavior. I was being too childish, my parents said, for giving up my studies to try and get what I wanted. They told me that I have to finish whatever I've started.