I used to..
But I think now, since I have lived on my own for a while now, I do what MAKES me happy. Yes, I would love for my parents to acknowledge the good things I do and say they're proud...but in the long run I need to make sure MY goals are set and completed and that I am happy with MYSELF

Hell, NO!

Not at all.

Sort of... I do wish my folks were prouder of me but I don't really go out of my way to make it happen... I'm lazy like that.

Nope. This is my life, thanks.

Not strive for it, no. It's nice when it happens, but I don't live my life by what they would do. Besides, what makes my parents proud is that I make my own choices, live my own life, and include them in it. Not that I do things their way.

YESSSS. Everytime I do something they wouldn't approve of, I think to myself "My parents would be SO disappointed in me" and get all guilt stricken. It probably goes back to what they used to tell me when I was younger . . . "Whenevr you are about to do something, imagine we (my parents) are watching . . . would you still do it!?!?" LOL I still think like that.

I know I make them proud, though. Maybe as I get older, I will stop looking for their approval SO much.

I do and it has put alot of pressure on my life. I hate it, but I can't break away from it.

I used to, but I finally stopped caring what they thought and started doing things for me.

Um No.

Nope. According to some, I'm independent to a fault. Like some posters here, I think it's nice if I happen to get their approval, but I can certainly live a happy life without it.

No, I think it's nice to have their approval, but definitely not necessary. I'm really independent and capable of making my own decisions and doing my own thing, they're proud of that

I used to put all of my faith into my mother's opinion and took it as the absolute and final word on anything and everything. It took one time of her being WRONG for me to realize that I need to start trusting my own instinct. Now, I will ask her for advice on how to proceed with things (i.e. looking to trade in my car and buy a new one), but ultimately it is me that makes the decision and lives with it.

I don't think its so much a case that I strive for my parents approval as it is I strive to not gain their disapprovel. There is a difference.

:: yes, which is hard because right now they're not really ahppy with some of my life choices. It's been a source of a lot of inner turmoil for me recently. I hope I can grow out of it sooner rather than later. Being the first born and only girl is rough!

no. if there are things i know won't go over well i start with "you won't like this but just so you know (fill in blank)". or i don't share that part of my life. my life is just SO different from anyone i know that it's not something anyone else can judge or come close to understanding. because of that my need for approval no longer exists.

My parents are the type of parents that are never proud. They always wonder why I didn't get an A+, why blahblahblah. Basically, I'm living my life, and as long as I'm happy, I don't care. I'm not going to please people who never acknowledged a single accomplishment I've achieved. Not going to keep trying, not worth it!

Lol I have the best parents. And I used to have their voices always in my head whenever I wanted to do things that weren't anything special or unusual, just things I knew they wouldn't wholeheartedly approve of. (What parent wholeheartedly approves of partying lol) But they're always hands-down the people I call when I have a problem if talking it over with my boyfriend doesn't make me feel better, when I have a super big accomplishment, and I just like to talk to them in general. It helps that my mom is a family therapist and all around awesome person in general. so yeah, I guess we're all pretty tight, but I don't feel like I'm not independent.

wow. that's what I get for typing here first thing after I wake up...so many grammar mistakes lol

Nope..I think I've done pretty well.