‎Imagine being excited about something you genuinely like.

‎Today, I got my hair done and I thought it looked good, neat, decent, not too long, not too short. I felt good.

‎Then I got home.

‎My dad was outside, and the look on his face was enough to ruin my mood. It was judgment without words, like something was wrong with me. I pretended I was fine because I needed to take pictures 😂 but honestly, it’s not even funny anymore.

‎There’s nothing wrong with growing up in a religious home. There’s nothing wrong with having religious parents. But what people forget is that their actions shape our future.

‎I’ve seen kids from very strict religious homes turn wayward not because they were bad, but because school became their escape. When freedom finally came, they misused it. So sometimes I wonder: is being too strict really the solution?

‎Every generation is different. Parents can’t keep comparing the past to the present and expect the same results. New times require learning, unlearning, and adapting  not constant “don’t do this, don’t do that.”

‎Birthdays are a good example.

‎I watched other kids’ parents bring cakes and party packs to school, celebrating their children. I always wished it was me 😂

‎My parents never did that. I only had a cake once  and that was because my brother got it for me. I never got birthday gifts, not even something small. My siblings did what they could, and I’m grateful for them.

‎It wasn’t about money. A little effort would’ve mattered. But certain “churchy” beliefs made birthdays feel unnecessary.

‎Sometimes it feels like parents prioritize education over mental and psychological health. Many of us are still healing from things our parents considered “normal.” Some people became introverts not because that’s who they are, but because home made them quiet. Some people don’t even know themselves because they’ve been pretending all their lives.

‎False accusations. No apologies. Constant correction.

‎You’re expected to understand them, but correcting them is disrespectful 🤦

‎Sometimes parents need to unlearn certain things. With every new generation comes change. Parents shouldn’t damage their children’s future because of rigid societal norms and values.

‎So now, when I do things I consider normal things that make me happy it feels like a sin 😂

‎I say I don’t care anymore (it’s a lie, I do 😂). But if being happy and comfortable feels like rebellion, then I guess I’m a rebel.

‎There’s so much more I want to say.

‎I just don’t have all the words yet.

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