Toni, I think our parents are coming from a life of experience and want us to be better than they are, don't want us to encounter the pain and problems they did growing up and a bit of living their lives through us vicariously... in varying degrees. Many times, they have higher standards for us than they had for themselves. They see us as reflections of themselves so they try to polish us to shine brighter. Sometimes they go overboard or they have twisted perceptions of how to do it.

The thing to do is make yourself happy. It's you you will have to live with the rest of your life. You know best what you want and what you need.

<font color=blue>This above all: To thine own self be true. --Shakespeare</font color=blue>