Dear parents,

I would like to welcome you to 2019 once more, but more importantly to the 21st century, where every topic is a "topic of conversation," and every matter is controversial. An era when opinions do matter, and you stripping me of one is basically a violation of rights. But let me slow down before anyone says I did not receive any house training. Because that is another challenge: being raised by somewhat traditional parents who in most cases were raised to stay quiet and nod at everything that was thrown at them.

They use to call it respect, but I call it instilled fear. Fear, because, at the smallest hint of rebellion, consequences followed. I will forever be an advocate for respect of elders, but it must be understood that respect also goes both ways no matter the age. For example, if your child took the time to listen to you without interruption, it goes without saying that the same should be done when it's the child's turn to speak. Or else what would you be teaching us? A lot of parents want to appear more "liberal" in their way of raising children, and in that new education comes listening to their children, raising them to be voices, not echos.

So taking into consideration that you raised me to have an opinion, once matters get heated in a debate that started out peacefully, I do not understand why you would want me to tuck my tail and accept your opinion blindly. Dear parents, with all due respect, you do not have the answers to everything. You always say that everything that we are living through you have done already, but hear me out: a lot of factors have changed. My generation does not want their toes stepped on, parent or not.

My generation wants to be heard. And as your children, we want to share our opinions with you. Having a different opinion than you does not equal me disrespecting you, it just means I have my own brain to formulate my own thoughts — like you taught me.

So, dear parents, sorry if my opinions sometimes shock you, I mean, no harm, but please stop using respect and submission interchangeably, because I will only abide by one of those.