To start this take I'm gonna make it clear to you. No, I don't hate my family and no, I don't regret being in my family; in fact, if I were given a chance to choose my family by God, I'd still choose them.
THE DOWNSIDE: ALMOST NO SOCIAL LIFE
When I was a kid, my parents wouldn't let me play with my friends most of the time. I was not allowed to go out with my friends without them coming along before I reached 12 years old. That being said, I never really thought they were being overprotective because I was also quite busy with all courses I joined after school. FYI, my parents are the typical Asian parents who demanded their kids to get good grades, and I was doing exactly what they wanted me to. In Primary School, if I got under 90 out of 100 (full mark) for all kind of tests, my mom would hit me and yell at me; thus, in primary school, I always got 90 and above for all tests and exams in all subjects, which then made me being in the TOP 10 in the whole school.
This result got me accepted in a prestigious private Junior High School, which at that time, made me happy. Now let me get this straight, I wasn't happy because I did what my parents wanted me to do, or because I got accepted in a prestigious school; I was happy because I know other kids were jealous of me and my brain, they wish they could be as smart as me, and that made me happy, the feeling of superiority. Sounds like a bitch right? Well, I was, since I didn't even know what and why I went to school and got good grades. Outside school, I had piano course twice a week, science course everyday after school, Chinese course on Saturday afternoon (cause it was kind of a must in our family to be able to speak, write and read Chinese) and practice for choir in church on Thursday evening. My life was so busy with being "The Perfect Girl" and little did I realize, my friends were so limited; I probably only had 3 friends whom I talked to everyday.
By the time I entered Junior High School, it was like an automatic switch in my head, that if I get below 90 points, I'm a stupid kid and a big disappointment to my family (since my sister is like hella genius). But it got harder and harder to maintain that standard, not to mention I started to develop strong interest in drawing so I spent more of my free time drawing instead of studying. Moreover, my new friends asked me to go out with them a lot more than when I was in primary school. I started to crave the outside world, but I was so busy with all my activities that I always said "no" to their invitations.
My parents too, prefer their kids to spend time at home to go out with friends; family comes first is their motto. In short, I literally did not go anywhere except nearby mall until I graduated high school (yes High School, this happened for years). Want a funnier story? On our last year of High School, we decided we (the whole class) would go to a theme park outside town with a bus. I asked my parents' permission and of course, they said no. I could only go if they were the one who take me there and I'd have to go back when they say I had to go back. Hence, behold people, I, an 18 year old girl that time, went to the theme park (which was 2 hour drive from my place) accompanied by my parents, and only spent 2 hours there, then went back home.
THE UPSIDE: YOU FEEL SO, SO, SO LOVED
When I had a field trip to a zoo outside my town, I accidentally fainted (possibly because of the heat). My parents were contacted by my teacher and they went all the way (around 2 hour drive because of the traffic) to pick me up themselves instead of waiting me to be brought back home by the school bus. And there was that time when I was having a high fever in the middle of the night, my dad went out to buy the meds and bought me a porridge (it was past midnight, so I don't know where the hell he found a restaurant that opened around that hour cause all restaurant in my town usually closed at 10 pm).
And that night when a stupid doctor gave me a wrong prescription for my typhus fever till my body temperature went lower than average (I was so pale and my body was so cold like a dead person), I know my mom stayed awake and checked on me every hour, making sure my heat pad was still warm enough for me. Every morning too, my mom prepared my breakfast and my lunchbox, and not only that, at 6 am, it was always both of my parents who took me to school (by car). They could've just waken up later cause I had maid (means my maid can actually prepare everything for me), but no, they woke up earlier than me and had all prepared for me.
They remember all my special events and they always came to support me (piano exams, piano competitions, drawing competitions, school talent shows, etc.). As I entered High School, I explained to them where my passion is and how I wanted to cut down my activities, starting with Chinese course and piano course. Surprisingly, they agreed.
THE CLOSURE
As I grow up, I know why my parents are so protective of me; they're just afraid anything bad will happen to me. But beyond all that, when I see it deeper, they just love me so much and want the best for me. How do I know? They allowed me to pursue my dream, which is to be a fashion designer. Never once they diminished my dream and said it's ridiculous or an unpromising career like other people (fyi, in here, esp. in Asian family, you're only considered having a promising future if you work in either business or science field).
So, if you ask me now, how does it feel to grow up under an overprotective parents? It is very restrictive and sometimes I struggle to make my point to them (why they shouldn't worry if I go out or come home late). I don't get to go out with my friends a lot indeed, but I get to spend more time with my family. I become very close to my sister and my mom which of course, become the first 2 people I go to with all my problems (most trustworthy secret keepers right, no need to worry they'll bad mouthing me). My dad also never fails to crack me up with his jokes (which actually really are hilarious).
Don't get me wrong, I still have friends and socialize (now that I'm studying abroad, I get more freedom to go out), but I only have 2 best friends in my life. Cause as we grow up, we all know that it's better to only have fewer friends who truly care about us than having a bunch of friends who are always no where to find when we need them. I love my overprotective parents, they taught me a lot about love, about what not to do when I become a parent in the future, about life values and above all, about the strong bond in family.
*ADDITIONAL PART: BOYFRIEND MATTER
PRIMARY TO HIGH SCHOOL
Me: There was this guy who asked me out
Parents: No dating until you graduate high school
COLLEGE IN TOWN
Me: So there's this guy asked me to movies
Mom: who?
Me: *name*, we were classmates in high school
Mom: go ask dad
Dad: no, just focus on your study for now
COLLEGE ABROAD (THROUGH TEXT)
1ST
Me: I'm going out tonight
Mom: with who?
Me: A guy I know
Mom: from where?
Me: Instagram (tinder actually)
Mom: Take care. Be home by 11.
Sister: I don't like the fact you know him from tinder, just this once.
Dad: Be home by 10
2ND
Me: I'm going out tonight.
Mom: with who?
Me: A friend.
Mom and sister: Friend who?
Me: someone I know from chatting up in Starbucks. He's a nice and smart guy.
Mom and sister: No. Stop going out with strangers. You wanna make friends go to Bible study in church and befriends them.
Dad: Don't look for boyfriend until you graduate.
Basically, I don't think my dad wants me to date anyone -_-
Yeah well, it's not been easy. I gotta work on explaining my dating principle to them.
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