<p>So lets look at why we parents make our kids nuts with advice:</p>
<p>It comes down to closets. </p>
<p>Let’s start with Closet #1: It is stuffed with projects that were started but not finished. It would take weeks to clean everything out and get things organized and “flying right”. We’ll call this Closet “Life of a Parent”.</p>
<p>Now let’s look at Closet #2: It only has a few things in it – and lots of space. It has a ton of potential. It could be turned into a workbench! A gift wrapping station! A mini library for music! A little elbow grease and some creative imagination and we’ll have something wonderful! We’ll call this closet “My kid’s life through my eyes.”</p>
<p>So which is more fun to spend an hour discussing? Closet #2, of course. </p>
<p>I highly recommend you say to your folks “Wow, I think I’ve become your hobby. I know you love me – but it’s not ok for me to be your “fix it” hobby.” – it may take a joint trip to a family counselor to communicate this – but you really need to find a way that they get the picture that they don’t get to play “Organize this closet” with your life. </p>
<p>Find a way (or a phrase) to gently and continually remind them that they are interesting, vibrant people – and they would be terrific in graduate school themselves – or pursuing other “Clean your own Closet” paths.</p>