• KEYS TO SUCCESS
  • The Power Of Concentration
  • Be Positive!
  • Handling Peer Pressure
  • The Pointing Finger
  • Say 'Boo!' to Stage Fright!
  • Making Friends
  • Tackling Bullies
  • Handling Problems
  • Beat those Blues!
  • Six Steps To Better Learning
  • Writing A Resume
  • Develop the Right Attitude
  • Developing Confidence
  • Goal in Life
  • Bridging The Gap
  • Come out of your shell
  • Changing Track
• SELF IMPROVEMENT
  • 5-Star Etiquette
  • Do it Now!
  • Be Your Word
  • Read Up!
  • Battling fear
  • Don't Worry, Be Happy
  • Organise Yourself
  • Give it Your Best!
• TO THE MANNER BORN
  • Fair Play
  • Love Thy Neighbour
  • Bathroom Etiquette
  • Guests and Hosts
  • Booked!
  • Telephone Etiquette
  • Good manners
  • When Guests Come
  • On Shaking Hands
  • Getting back to people
  • Please Excuse Me!
  • P’s & Q’s

Keys to Success
Bridging The Gap

How many times have you felt that your parents don't understand you, that they have no respect for you as an individual? How often do you shake your head in frustration and blame it on the 'generation gap'? Parents! They are like aliens from another planet altogether! You and they are in different camps, strangers forced to live under the same roof. Right? Wrong! There is a way of bridging what appears to be a yawning chasm.
If you genuinely want to improve your relationship with your parents (and give them a big shock in the bargain!) try listening to them, treating them just like you would a valued friend. Instead of always whining,"You don't understand me," stop and think. Do you ever try and understand them? Parents are under a lot of stress, too. When you are worrying about your upcoming maths exam, they are worrying about the boss in the office, and just how they are going to pay for your braces. Like you, they have days when someone humiliates them at work. Sometimes they don't know where the money for all the applications you send to foreign universities is going to come from.Your mom may seldom have a chance to go out and enjoy herself. Your dad's colleagues may deride him because he cannot afford membership to a club.
Yes, weird though it may sound, parents are human too. They may have dreams they've sacrificed because they want you to realise yours. Once you step into their shoes and try to look at things from their point of view, two wonderful things happen: one, you feel a new respect for them, and two, you will find you can actually get your own way without heated arguments.
Today, when you come back from school or college, ask your mom or dad,"How did your day go today?" or "Tell me a little more about your job." or "Is there anything I can do to help you around the house?" You'll see the visible difference it makes to the atmosphere at home. And each day, try to keep your promises - to do your homework, to clean your room and to write letters or telephone if you are living away from home.