How Do I Get My Parents To Trust Me?

So your parents don’t trust you, and you’re wondering why. To start with, recognize that a big part of this may be their own fears and worries about you and your well-being. Sometimes what looks like distrust is really just fear.

It’s also possible that what feels like distrust comes from their feeling that they don’t have enough information. If parents don’t have the whole picture (so to speak) and feel like you are keeping information from them, they can  feel suspicious. Additionally, if you’ve made some mistakes in the past–done things you shouldn’t—they may truly feel like they can’t trust you to make a better/different decision yet.

So what should you do?

The first step is to talk with them. Acknowledge their perspective. Be more open with your parents. Offer up information about where you’re going, what you’re doing, and whom you’ll be with. Try to be as transparent as you can. Ask for a chance to prove your trustworthiness, and point out the positive ways you are earning their trust. Talking directly—and especially calmly—about this issue can make a big difference. Good luck!