Being "yourself" when your parents are around

How do you folks manage it?
Do you openly schmooze and flirt around if your parents are in vicinity?
Do you do "adult-talk" with your friends when your parents can hear you?

I somehow have a problem with that.
e.g. I could talk about political issues very straightforwardly with "other adults" (including debate with real politicians, doing mass public speeches, etc.), but I feel uncomfortable to expose my whole being and potential in front of my parents.

It's nothing rational. If I really wanted, I could do that.
But it's just a sentiment: I simply feel uncomfortable.

I feel as if it's better to hide my private life from them.

Reply 1

Anonymous #2

Same with me.

My parents' friends think I'm a very shy and introverted guy. But I'm not. Well, not around people of any age groups when my parents aren't around.

Its not as if I'm embarrassed or anything but I just don't bother. And like you say I don't want them to know my private life.

Reply 2

Mr.God

7

I prefer not to talk about my sexual history and stuff like that when my parents are about.

Luckily such situations are rarely encountered.

Reply 3

foxiroxi

10

Although I don't talk openly about some stuff with my parents then I do flirt with people when they can see (before I had my boyfriend) and I will kiss, cuddle, curl up on the sofa with my boyfriend in the same room as them (in return I'm not allowed to say anythign about my parents kissing or cuddling!)

Reply 4

thatwhichiam

14

I feel the same way as the OP, in fact I'm almost a different person when my parents are around. I would never mention my sexual hstory around them (in fact the time my ex (then we were still going out) came round while they were out? Mum thinks we spent five hours talking :wink:

)

Reply 5

Aeris

15

I don't hide anything from my parents, unless I'm being all mushy about a guy I like. I save that talk for my sisters. When I decide to have a guy over, he better be able to talk to my parents like anyone else.

Reply 6

Richy_Boi

12

My parents know everything about me! That's the way i like it too!

Hell, you live with them! Be real and accept it!

Reply 7

Mattmoy_2000

9

(in fact the time my ex (then we were still going out) came round while they were out? Mum thinks we spent five hours talking )

No, that's what your mother says she thinks you were doing. Quite a different thing altogether.

Reply 8

Anonymous #3

Does anyone notic how if you tell your parents thing blunt the topic stops?

One convo went with my parents

me: can I stay at boyfriend tomorrow
Parent: don't see why not as long as you behave
Me: of course I will
Parents: you going to have sex
Me: yes

That was the end of the convo. If I had of not wanted to tell them it woudl ahve carried on for the whole night!

Reply 9

cat_meiow

1

Anonymous

Same with me.

My parents' friends think I'm a very shy and introverted guy. But I'm not. Well, not around people of any age groups when my parents aren't around.

Its not as if I'm embarrassed or anything but I just don't bother. And like you say I don't want them to know my private life.

I'm exactly the same but its my dad who thinks I'm the shy little girl, my mum knows the honest truth.

Reply 10

foss

same with me. i can't be myself whatsoever when my parents are around.

Reply 11

Mattmoy_2000

9

Why are people posting Anon on here? It's not like mummy is going to trawl through internet fora looking for what you have to say, or even recognise you by your screenname!

Reply 12

Zoecb

11

cat_meiow

I'm exactly the same but it's my dad who thinks I'm the shy little girl, my mum knows the honest truth.

Same!

Reply 13

Ellsbells3032

9

I'm pretty much the same withg my parents as with my friends...they don't know how far ive been with a guy but they know about all the guys ive kissed and have on occasion called me "sex-mad"...im quite open with parents (strangly they were the firts [people to know when i had my first kiss!)
and i flirt but never anything more around my parents and even my grandparents!

Reply 14

jointhedots

16

thatwhichiam

(in fact the time my ex (then we were still going out) came round while they were out? Mum thinks we spent five hours talking :wink:

)

Trust me, she really doesn't.

There's just some things you don't say around some people, if you think about it there's probably subjects that you bring up with some friends that you wouldn't with others. Same with your parents.

Reply 15

Angelil

19

I really don't see what's so remarkable about this - my parents don't discuss that sort of stuff in my presence so it's hardly ground-breaking that I don't discuss it in front of them. If you're mature enough to be in that sort of relationship, then surely you're mature enough to keep the details to yourself. It's not about 'being yourself' or 'not being yourself'.....

Reply 16

mipmapped

13

It's not about 'being yourself' or 'not being yourself'.....

Indeed, I'm not entirely sure if it's healthy to be sharing details of your sexual exploits with your parents. Or maybe I'm just stuffy.

Reply 17

Angelil

19

mipmapped

Indeed, I'm not entirely sure if it's healthy to be sharing details of your sexual exploits with your parents. Or maybe I'm just stuffy.

Nope, I think you're normal.....or does the OP think that everyone shares details of their sex lives with their family except them?!

Reply 18

Anonymous #1

OP

Hmmm I sort of feel that it's wrong. Or at least... that it would hurt them if I don't tell them all about myself.

I don't mean only sexual life. I mean all other things that I feel "are my own business". Not mischievous things. Even simple things like my political orientation, opinions on religion, ideology, lifestyles... also my education.

Reply 19

cat_meiow

1

Anonymous

Hmmm I sort of feel that it's wrong. Or at least... that it would hurt them if I don't tell them all about myself.

I don't mean only sexual life. I mean all other things that I feel "are my own business". Not mischievous things. Even simple things like my political orientation, opinions on religion, ideology, lifestyles... also my education.

Tbh i think it would hurt them more to know what their little girl gets up to.

Being "yourself" when your parents are around

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