How can I get my parents to be less strict (towards me at least)?

my advice is study hard and go to a college out of state. that way you'll be free.

until then. be a good daughter, keep your ears open and mouth shut.

I have to agree with what Jarett says. Your parents are extremely protective of you because they care but they are also smothering you without realizing it. It sounds like you're an only child or the older child so you'll have the tough task of "breaking in" your parents.

A serious and calm discussion with them about your frustrations are a good idea. It shows them that you're mature enough to approach a problem calmly and maturely instead of throwing a temper tantrum or yelling like most kids your age might. Start off by telling them you understand why they are so protective of you. Then see if there is some way you can compromise so that you can show them they raised you well and can trust you to make the right decisions when they're not around. If they decide to compromise make sure you don't ruin that trust by breaking that trust or they'll very likely be even worse than they are now.

Here is one thing you can do if they agree to let you out that will help in "breaking them in":

Call them before they call you when you're out with your friends several times throughout the night and be detailed about what you're doing. Calling them before they call you gives you control over the situation (they can't be mad if you're calling them to give check-in) and lets them know that you're alive and kicking. It'll help them to become more comfortable with you being out with friends and after a while you can slowly cut down the amount of "check-in" phone calls and eventually you may only need to call once to let them know what you're doing and when you're getting home.

How often do you guys actually have serious talks? I'm not talking about screaming back and forth, or fights. But you need to sit down with them, and ask them why they have some of the rules they have. And then you need to explain to them how you feel. Don't compare yourself to other kids, or compare them to other parents. But just let them know that you would like to have some kind of a life. You aren't interested in getting into trouble, but you'd just like to have a life. Maybe see if they will start out with a small compromise or something. But the key is communication. There are some parents that are absolutely ridiculously strict and this won't work. But see if you can sit down with them, have a talk, tell them how you feel, and see if you can work something out. If they don't trust you, then see if you can do small things to try and gain a little trust.

i know this sounds wrong and a lot of people won't agree with me. but I'd do whatever they told you not to

*Just go out to parties without telling them
*Just go out with your friends even if your parents say no
*Talk on the phone, IM your friends, etc. and if they take your shit away just act like it does not bother you

But when you do any of these things take a non violence approach. don't yell, don't scream, don't cry. just do it casually and calmly. And when they confront you about it say "it how it is", keep a good tone of voice and don't be disrespectful about it.

example: "Mom. Dad. I'm you need to learn how to let go. I'm responsible, I don't have a history of making bad decisions, and I'm going to college soon. you need to let me go. I would like to remember my last years here as a time in which my parents trusted me and gave me the freedom to make decisions for myself. not a time in which you were overprotective and did not trust me at all."

I didn't do any of these things to disrespect or spite my parents. I did it to prove to them that I could go out and not get in trouble

Not only did this work, but all of my siblings that came after me had it a lot easier

PS - don't come back drunk or get into any trouble while you are out or this WILL backfire

wow. its like a reading a summary of my life. that's insane. ha we should be friends and we would get along fine. I'm under 18 as well even though my age doesn't say that and I don't know why. My parents expect me to plan like DAYS ahead of some big event which is crazy because what NORMAL teenager does that. they hate last minutes things and we usually get in arguments about that. when I ask if a friend, like a best friend even, can come over for a few hours the FIRST thing that comes out her mouth is NO. I MEAN WHAT THE HELL? I think she just likes the word no because its absolutely ridiculous. and then I get frustrated because I'm wondering why the heck she just said no. and then we get a fight because I end up yelling at her and then she thinks I'm being over dramatic and immature. nearly every single time she says no she ends up saying yes at the end of the argument and then she says I'm spoiled and I won't leave her alone until I get what I want but I'm just so mad that she couldn't say yes to begin with.
i am a good kid. I really am. I have NEVER done anything they'd be super mad about. so I think they just don't trust me.
and for the phone thing, they always are on my butt about talking on it. but they rarely let me hang out with people and I hate how they take away me talking to them too. lately I've been pulling the really quiet talking on the phone under the covers at night so they won't hear me.

oh yea and the biggest issue lately is how they won't let me drive with new drivers. they let me drive with them just not for like the first month. which is ridiculous.
oh and also they WILL not let me go on dates with my boyfriend. like to the movies or anything. he is not allowed to drive me ANYWHERE because I'm not old even to "car date" like whatever the hell that means. I'm sixteen years old and they treat me like I'm 12.

it feels good to talk about it even though I still don't know what to do.

You know what, I agree with GruffBalloon. Your rents are being really unreasonable and ridiculous (no offense), I would just do what I felt like doing. Eventually they are going to have to realize that their rules are only pushing you away and you're not doing anything wrong. What are they gonna do? Ground you? then sneak out. Or don't even sneak out, just walk out of the door. They don't beat you do they? If not then I would be like screw you, Imma do what I want.

i had parents like that, I still kinda do. once I started to pay my own cell phone and my own things they could not control how long I was on the phone because its my money, I don't think its that they don't trust you they just don't want to let go. the easiest thing I can tell you is lie. I'm 20 and sometimes when I wanna go to a party they ask EVERYTHING that can possibly b asked, so I tell em that I'm going to the movies, I read the reviews on the movie and when I get home and they ask about it I kinda know what's going on. I know it sucks and you probably don't want to like to them but your gonna have to till they learn they need to let go and that ur not a child anymore