One of the many things that drive parents crazy about their children is that children like to think for themselves.  Parents do not like that.  Most of the time, parents do not understand why children believe as they do; they may also feel threatened when the children do not see things the right way -- that is, the parents' way.  Parents have experience; they believe children do not.  Parents know the dangers and traps in life; children seem not to care.  Parents believe that if children are left to their own devices, they will destroy themselves.  Parents need to realize the difference between discipline and thinking, disobedience and thinking, disrespect and thinking.  Children are just people living through a smaller body.  They must learn to express themselves, to understand who they are and grow into who they are through their own thoughts.  Just because your children do not think as you do doesn't mean they are wrong.

  --  Iyanla Vanzant