Okay. I'm in college right now, as some of you may know, and I live with my parents...

The problem is that my dad won't let me stay out past 12 because he believes that's when all the "bad," "crazy" guys come out. Think of the guys who get a ticket to the police station at night.

I'm a small guy. Skinny, too. Probably can't defend myself.

Any suggestions? I'd like to go out past 12!!! But my dad won't let me!! I'm in college!

Not that im suggesting to follow the same path i have, but...

When i was 17 i graduated HS. My parents were extremely protective. At this time in my life they wanted me, and im not kidding, inside before dark (unless i 'went out', then i had to be home at like 11), only allowed to play 1 hour of video games a day, no girls in my room, wasnt allowed to drive...you can see how it was for me.

So a few weeks after i graduated i decided to stand up for myself, at that point i considered myself an adult (how wrong i was, kinda).

Somethings were easier to overcome then others, i started staying out later, being more independant etc.

However one day i literally paid my parents to go out and have a nice diner and see a movie together so id have the house to myself. I then invited my g/f at the time over and made the mistake of using everything in the house to my advantage...candles, ice, flipping the blinds, my parents bed....

Needless to say, in a Perfectionists house (my father), someone who pays attention to the most minute details...this was a no-no.

I got kicked out, spent few days homeless and wandering til i finally ended up staying with my g/f and her parents for a few weeks, subletted her grandmothers second floor, went to college, eventually got my own apartment.

SO while i went overboard, at some point you gotta stand up for yourself. Your parents will say stuff about you living there and how they are still in charge. In a way they are right, just ask them if they are willing to supress your adulthood and ruin thier relationship with you over something as silly as this.

Im assuming your at least 18. You can legally vote for the next idiot to run a whole country, you can legally smoke and give yourself cancer, and you go go get shot at in iraq if you so chose but you cant go out past 12?

_________________
-Ka-
"Be the same, only better."

Posts like those make me glad I had parents that taught me to take care of myself and that let me basically do what I desired as long as I got my chores and homework done.

The only times that I ever got given an allotted amount of tv or video games that I could do a day, was when I was in trouble for not doing homework, or something like that.

I think the key is in showing your parents that you are independant and that you have a head on your shoulders and can handle your life, so they need to let you live it. I completely agree with Ka's sentiments. You're in college, so you must have at least a reasonable amount of intelligence, you must be old enough to vote and legally to drive even if your parents are stunting you by not letting you drive. If you have all those responsibilities, then staying out past 12 is nothing; merely a couple hours, that's not a whole lot of time to be concerned about.

If they won't let you live, then ask yourself whehter you should be living at home and having your growth stunted. Maybe since you are in college, you should your own place, or live on campus or something. Get out and live life, instead of living in your parent's house.

_________________
"The 'Brick Walls' are there to allow you to prove how badly you want something!" ~ Randy Pausch

~ Rye

ahh man this reminds me of my lifeee my parents want me home at 12:30 latest and im 18 in college im like the only one from my firends that has to be back my 12:30 this really doenst help my night game... if what the others suggested you do works let us kno i would like to find a way around the 12:30 curfew also

Then take initiative and change your life. Waiting to see if someone else can do it isn't gonna help you, this is something you need to do for yourself, by yourself. I did it at a younger age, 16-17, but I've got pretty cool parents. You can do it at your age easier, because you're older and have more rights by law, so you use that in your argument.

_________________
"The 'Brick Walls' are there to allow you to prove how badly you want something!" ~ Randy Pausch

~ Rye

Wow I had a childhood up until my senior year that was similar, not out past 12, etc. But once my senior year rolled around they trusted how they raised me, I think you should ask your parents to do the same. Tell them you have done a good job raising me and I understand this is your house and I respect that, however I would love the ability to be a adult and be around the two people who have helped me become the individual you made me(still live at home.) I mean they have to let the bird out the nest eventually.

I went to college out of state so I didn't stay at home during college. It is cool to go out and do all those things, but the reality is that isn't when your going to meet all the girls so why trip on it? When I got back from school they realized I was an adult, and that I would do what I wanted, but I still ask out of respect.

If you can't ask and your freedom is being suppressed that much I would suggest finding some roommates and getting a place. Be very careful when choosing roommates, friends are friends and not always good roommates, in fact making them your roommate can ruin a friendship or hurt it severely.