How To Respectfully Tell Your Parent You Don't Want Advice

Age doesn’t guarantee wisdom and proficiency in all areas of life, as much as we wish it did. There will come a time in life when you need to assess whether your parents are experts on a specific topic. There are also going to be moments when you need to swallow your pride and accept that your parents have lived longer than you, and they may have learned a thing or two about that thing you’re trying to figure out.

This is the delicate dance of adulthood: figuring out when you need independence and distance from your parents and when you need closeness and deference. Every parent and adult child relationship is different, and this is what makes this so challenging.

A key part of adulthood is integrating your parent’s advice and deciding when it is important to take it or leave it. If you have decided you don’t want your parents' advice, here are some ways to tell them respectfully.

• Explain why you have made your decision with evidence and facts.
• Thanks for the advice,” and continue your plan.
• “I appreciate your concern. I have made my decision.”
• “I know you disagree with my decision, and that is ok. I have decided to do this.”
• “I really appreciate your advice, and I know it’s coming from a good place. And I don’t want any more advice on this right now. I am working through it on my own.”
• “I am making the best decision I can, and I don’t need any more feedback or advice on this.”
• “Thanks for letting me know how you feel about this. I’ll let you know what I decide."