How to Deal With Closed-Minded and Conservative Parents

It's common for teen children to disagree with their parents from time to time, but teenagers with parents who are conservative and closed-minded can experience constant discord in their relationship with their mother and father. Learning how to remain calm and interact with parents in an appropriate way will help tame the conflicts and protect the relationship. This won't happen overnight; it's a process of learning how to speak to and interact with one another.

  1. Learn More About Their Point of View

    • Taking the time to see where your parents are coming from is a respectful way to deal with your disagreements. Listening and learning more about your parents' point of view doesn't mean you have to agree with them. When you show respect for your parents, they are more likely to respectfully listen to your point of view, even if they don't agree with your side of things.

    Present Your Own Point of View

    • After you understand where your conservative parents are coming from, you can build on their points of view to present your own. It's helpful to repeat what your parents told you so they can see that you truly listened, and then discuss your ideas in reference to theirs, the KidsHealth website notes. Wait until the heat of the moment has passed, however; if you've just had an intense argument with your parents, trying to present your thoughts could be futile.

    Find Common Ground

    • Agreeing to disagree is often the only way to stop an argument, but you could try to find common ground. For example, if you're against the death penalty and your parents are adamant supporters, you might discuss what types of crimes deserve punishment without talking about specific punishments. In this way, you can find common ground with your parents about punishment for certain types of crimes without getting into an explosive argument about the pros and cons of putting inmates to death. It is possible to respectfully disagree if you base the conversation at least partly on common beliefs. Showing your parents that you can have a rational, respectful conversation is a mature way to encourage them to do the same.

    Change the Subject

    • If all else fails, change the subject. Respectfully tell your parents that you don't believe there's a chance of agreeing on the topic, so you would like to talk about something else. Accepting that your parents aren't going to change their minds is one step toward making peace with your disagreements so you can maintain your relationship. Find topics that you agree on and make these the focus of your conversations and interactions with your parents.

    Remain Calm

    • It can be difficult to stay calm and rational when you feel angry or passionate about something, especially if your parents get heated, too, but this is the most important thing you can do to keep a conversation on track. You may need to be the mature one who manages the conversation instead of your parents.

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