18 year old adult or child This is a letter to my parents and the parents of every 18 year old in the nation. We are America's youth and we need to be heard. As I sit at the computer and begin to write, I would like to make one thing clear to everyone reading this: I write from the perspective of, with the support of, some experts, but no one else. There are many things involved in maintaining a healthy, loving relationship with your child when you are parenting an 18-year-old. To some, your children are treated like adults, but to you, they are still children. When that little girl goes off to college, she becomes independent from you for the first time ever. This independence brings many changes to the parent-child relationship, and therefore makes communication very difficult. You are different from them, both in age and experience and you are partial to saying some of the new things they are starting to see and experience in the world. This bias creates confusion, where both parent and child cut off the line of communication. However, in some cases, like mine, that line of communication is open. this poses a threat to you parents because of the maturity and diplomacy we can now bring to conversations and even arguments. The issue here is threefold: as your children we would still like to be loved, as your friends we would like to be informed and included in important decision-making processes, and as individuals we would like to be trusted and left alone at times. I believe the reason why most parents find it very difficult to treat their children as they get older with more individuality is also three-fold. First, parents are very different from generation children... middle of paper... adults. It should be noted, however, that by breeding too long, this goal will not be achievable. In conclusion, it is extremely important that you parents let this process happen, we are America's youth, as I stated before, and we look forward to becoming the new movers and shakers in its world. The only way you can allow this to happen is to respect ourselves and trust that everything you have taught us up to this point will influence many decisions we make in life. Don't be offended by our strength and motivation and don't confuse our individuality with any kind of offensive move towards you. Please understand that we are in a difficult situation as parents and children, but we must deal with it in the least abrasive way possible. Thank you for your attention on this matter, understand that we are ready for the world and its vices, but we will always love you.