I have much the same problems as you and Pokerkitty with my parents, although it manifests itself differently. It seems like especially in the last few years, we haven't been able to understand each other at all. I'm not saying they don't try to understand where I'm coming from or what I'm trying to say, because they probably do a little, but it seems like most of the time I'm the one trying to make compromises and apologize for everything and try to modify my behavior to fit them (especially my mom) and my suggestions to them about what I'm really trying to say or what I mean just go in one ear and out the other.

Because of my handicap, my parents have to be A LOT more involved in my life than the average parent, which I understand and appreciate, I really do. It just seems to me (and everyone else) that they try to take advantage of that a lot. For example as I was telling Lori a while ago, they prefer to pay someone to help take care of me during the day and stay with me in my apartment half the time and come home the other half of the nights to save money, because they don't want Klink doing it even though he takes care of me better than anyone else. Now the caregiver I have understands all this and lets him do most of it so we can have more freedom to do our own thing, and spend more time together. But my point is since they insist on paying for those kind of services for me and not letting my fiance do it for free, it really limits what I can do and a lot of the time we end up making excuses and taking weekend trips or whatever without telling them about it. It's not that they don't trust him, at least not entirely, but they'd just rather pay someone to do it, which I think is stupid.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm grateful that they're willing and able to pay for my schooling and apartment as well as the best care possible for me, it just feels like a ton of pressure sometimes because in order to keep my life stabalized and as independent as possible, I have to do so many things under their rules (and this isn't about something as simple as them opposing Klink and I sleeping together or anything silly like that) and their way of doing things, and so many times I just feel stuck.

Add to that that my mom always seems to find something wrong or worth improvement in every situation, and really doesn't know how to focus on the positive in life, ad oftentimes it seems there is nothing I or anyone else can do right. It's very frustrating. So I definitely sympathize with you.

*hugs to you both*