My Parents try to shape who I am

[Drummer Ben]

I feel like I have to break away from my parents to find who I really am. I'm 18 and this is my last year of highschool. My parents have a certain way they expect me to act. Not speaking morally but from the friends I hang out with, the music I listen to. With the music I totally just told them they can't stop my music. For instance I love Willie Nelson and my mom is pissed that I like Wilile. She says you not from the country and your putting on an act. Theirs no reason you should like country music. What does she have against me? It gets really hard to enjoy myself when everything I do gets questioned, everywhere I got gets questioned, everything i wear gets questioned, all my hobbies get questioned. I just feel I can't form an identity because my parents have to know everything about me. I wish I had some sort of a private life. So what I live in New England and love country, so what I love photography, why should they care about every little detail about my life and then try to control it. I want to represent my self for once. Turning 18 that is in 11 days. Hopefully it gets better from here. Does anybody else have the same experience. It seems these days the only private life I have is on the internet.

[ChrisTJ]

I just think that this is a tough time time for both of you. You obviously want your independence which you're entitled to but your mom wants to keep he 'little baby'. I think you need to have a chat with your mom about adulthood and what you expect in terms of freedom. She might just need time to adjust to the new realities.

Secondly don't stop listening to Willie, he's a LEGEND! I love country music and I live in a city in Scotland. Hardly Willie Nelson and George Strait territory but I can't get enough.

[Magenta]

You need to tell your mother this and how you feel. It's not a fun conversation to have but if you're going to be an adult and form your own identity, you also need to stand up for yourself. I don't mean get into her business and make things worse, just calmly explain to her how she's making you feel and how it's not exactly appropriate for someone your age who should have already had plenty of time to explore who they are. We start that experimental age at about the age of 13.

My mum is not that actively involved in my life and since I turned 18, she's given me a lot more breathing room. But I also made it clear that I am my own person and expect to be treated like one. You do have to be respectful of the fact you live under their roof with their rules but by talking about it, you'll find that you may be able to come to a compromise.

And there's nothing wrong with liking country music. I used to live in a city of two million people and I love country. Now I live in the country but that's beside the point.

[Drummer Ben]

Great Points! haha, whenever I do talk to her about it she ignores me so their really isn't anything I can do but wait and hopefully overtime she will see I can be independent away from your parents. Glad to see other people know whats happening. She can't take Willie away from me. She tries to figure me out and I can't stand to be understood. You know their are things I want to keep private from everyone else. You know every man or women has a right to their own problem. I just feel My mom has to stop trying to protect me from everything, gotta stop trying to take risk away from me and let me figure things out for myself. I will never learn any other way. One of my favorite quotes is "The Day I stopped relying on others to make myself successful was the day i took full control of making myself a success" - Jared Polin

[Body odah Man]

Wow this is a sad post. I'm sorry for you buddy :(
Like other posters have said-try to discuss this with your mother and see if you can get her to respect ur adulthood.

[Croconaw]

Tell your mom that this is your life and she can't control it, no matter how hard she tries.

[allisonmyers]

No matter how hard they try you are going to be who you are by your actions and thoughts not theirs