Article: Think about times that your parents have acted negatively toward you and consider if their behavior is warranted by some past action of yours. Even if you have changed, you might need to work on showing them that you have changed. For example, if you used to sneak out a lot, but have changed your behavior, your parents might be suspicious of your whereabouts and constantly think that you're up to no good. Since their suspicious are founded on previous truths, talk to them about it. Say something like, "Dad, I know I snuck out a lot last year and got into trouble. I realized that was really dumb, and I've cleaned up my act and stopped hanging out with those people." Keep up your responsible behavior to show that you're serious. Think about the circumstances under which your parents treat you negatively and try to determine if there is a specific cause behind it. If there is a misunderstanding, address this. For example, if your parents get annoyed when they think you're not listening, say: "Mom, I know you think I'm not paying attention because I'm looking at this book, but I really am listening to you." If your parents treat you negatively every time a certain thing happens, try to figure out what this thing is. Maybe they see something that you're not aware of and you need to learn how to prevent these situations in the future. For example, if your parents become negative every time you get a phone call from a certain person, ask them about it. Maybe they overheard a phone conversation in the past that they didn't approve of and they are worried about you. The only way to clear up any confusion is to talk about it.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Identify past incidents that may have led to this negative view. Identify what brings on negative behavior in your parents. Look for repeated patterns.