from an article on a jewish website, re: the importance of listening

"Many parents don't know who their kids' friends are, what they enjoy, where they struggle, who they really are. Sometimes they don't know their own children because they cling to an image they've created and ignore the flesh and blood responses of their offspring. After enough unsuccessful attempts at communication, the children eventually stop trying. As the children get older this situation becomes more difficult to repair."

my parents know who my friends are, for sure, but the rest of it...they only know that i enjoy dancing because it's such an obsession, and as for where i struggle and who i really am? sometimes, but rarely.