Dear Carol,

My parents are super strict about dating, and it’s really hard. My brother had to break up with his girlfriend because they made it so difficult, and now I feel like I can’t move forward with someone I really like. We’ve gotten close, but I’m scared of how my parents will react. What should I do?

– Confused And Stuck

Dear Confused And Stuck,

No easy answer. There may come a day when you get to make decisions on your own, but if you live with your parents and depend on them, you’re not quite there yet. Deep down, I hope you are aware that your parents care about you and only want the best for you. Can you arrange for one or both to meet this person first? Would that make things better? (Perhaps they would not like them—or anyone.) It can be hard to be both the obedient daughter and the growing teen. I hope that you’ll always choose people who are kind and smart and that someday your parents will approve of your dates. It may help to say, “He makes me feel more confident, and we both love music” instead of, “But I really like him and he’s so cute!”

Carol Weston is the author of 16 books, including Girltalk, Speed of Life and Ava and Pip. Follow her on Insta @carolwestonnyc and visit carolweston.com.

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